Narambamu showcases rich diversity

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. A good photograph is able to accurately portray a person's sorrow, happiness, enthusiasm, fear, shame and other feelings. Photographs can capture not only such emotions, but also rare occurrences, historical events and important locations of scenic beauty. This makes the camera unique and no amount of developments in the area of electronics can replace photography.

Narambamu Sri Lanka - tourism exhibition was launched on January 15 in Negombo directed by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Dr. Nalaka Godahewa on the advice of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

People will have the opportunity of seeing this photo exhibition in Colombo, Gampaha, Kandy, Bentota, Galle and several other main cities and towns soon. This is the second time that an exhibition of this kind is being held.

Earlier the largest photo exhibition titled 'Sri Lanka Through Your Eyes' organised by the Sri Lanka Environmental Journalists Forum was held in 15 towns in 1996.

Narambamu Sri Lanka 2011 has succeeded in conveying the message that environment means not only trees, plants, wild animals and waterfalls, but much more.

Pictures of Sri Lanka's diverse and attractive scenic locations are included in this exhibition.

This photographic competition was organised parallel to the promotional program the Tourism Promotion Authority held under 12 themes each for the 12 months of 2011.The 12 themes were the beaches, sports, seminars, people and cultures, pilgrimages, weddings and honeymoons, mental and physical health, Sri Lanka's heritage, nature and wild life, society and lifestyles, indigenous food, shopping and joyful events.

All this is aimed at attracting over 700,000 tourists to Sri Lanka during year 2011.

According to Mr. Godahewa this tourism development program is geared to meet the goals of Mahinda Chintana.

This photographic exhibition is a poem in pictures. We were fortunate to view this exhibition that brought unforgettable poetic thoughts to the minds of visitors. Many of them depicted humaneness and love.

These feelings were so intense that they made the observer and the observed almost one and the same.

Two hundred photographs out of 500 sent by competitors were selected for the exhibition.

Twenty four of these exhibits have been selected to be used as tourism picture post cards and tourism posters. Twenty-four thousand picture postcards and 10,000 posters will be distributed in both Sri Lanka and abroad among millions of people.

The first prize winner in this photographic competition received a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 and an air ticket to Thailand. The second and third prize winners received Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000 and the opportunity for a free weekend stay at a tourist resort.

Nine other competitors were each given cash prizes of Rs. 5,000 and 24 who sent photos received Rs. 2,500 each.

Dr. Godahewa said that this fresh approach to the industry has brought about a change in attitude. No longer is tourism considered as merely a matter of building more and more hotels.

The photographs exhibited reflect contemporary themes and each of them 'speaks' a thousand words. "These pictures will undoubtedly teach in many aspects of life, he said.