People's Travels - inaugural tour to Kataragama

People's Travels, a subsidiary company of the People's Bank, which specialises in pilgrimages to India, has forged ahead in a new business venture, diversifying into the field of promoting tourism internally. The inaugural tour, carrying pilgrims in a company owned luxury tourist bus during the weekends, to Kataragama, was started on December 3.

Chairman of People's Bank Dr. P. A. Kiriwandeniya speaking on the inaugural tour, said, "Recognising the importance of adapting to the current trends in business, the Board of Directors of People's Travels decided to organise a tour service for pilgrims to the holy city of Kataragama. Through this, we are encouraging people to travel within Sri Lanka and helping to promote tourism internally.

We see this as a Corporate Social Responsibility as well as a new business venture."

The pilgrims have the option of stopping for rest at three sites - Jayasignhe Holiday Resort, Hotel Robinson and the Ceylon Tourist Board rest house.

When booking the tickets, pilgrims are requested to specify which of the stops they choose to rest at. The condition of two people sharing a room, if stopping for the overnight stay at one of the specified hotels also applies.

The People's Travels owned luxury tourist bus is fully air-conditioned and can seat 41 people. The tour leaves Colombo at 0600 hrs on Saturday and returns at 1900 hrs on Sunday.

"We plan on expanding this tour to incorporate the Madunagala hot springs, Bataatha Farm and other sites of historical value into the tour, with further requests made by the pilgrims also being taken into consideration," said CEO/General Manager of People's Bank Asoka de Silva.