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| Sunday, 18 May 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Medawachchiya Rest House : the popular stopover on A-9 by BEVERLEY JANSZ The word 'Medawachchiya' means 'Meda' (centre) and Wachchiya (Villa) and therefore the name 'Medawachchiya' was given to the junction which is exactly 17 kilometres radius to four popular tourist spots - Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Vavuniya and Madhu.
The colonial-style Medawachchiya Rest House was built several years ago in the centre of the Medawachchiya town, and has for decades been the popular stopover for local and foreign tourists who visit many places of tourist attraction, including Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Madhu Church, Medawachchiya Ihala Wewa, Medawachchiya Pahala Wewa, Gonameriyawa water spout, Kebitigollawa, Vavuniya and many more places in the North Central Province of the island. The closest and most popular attraction is the ancient temple on the 'Isivaru Bessa Gala', built on the peak of a large rock now known as 'Isin Bessa Gala' temple overlooking a scenic view of beautiful mountains. At the top of the rock is a pond. Following the peace accord and the movement of tourists, both foreign and local, the Medawachchiya Rest House has been given a facelift and has been completely refurbished on the initiative taken by Ceylon Hotels Corporation (CHC) Chairman Bodhisiri Ranasinghe, whose vision is to make all CHC properties popular among tourists. The Bar/Restaurant has been given a new look and many new features added to meet the needs of the present clientele.
Medawachchiya Rest House is located 250 k.m. from Colombo and is an ideal spot for travellers to relax over a cup of tea, a snack or a meal. After the peace accord, the rest house has become a popular wayside stopover in addition to being popular for residential seminar, workshops and other meetings, Senior Manager, Marketing/Travel, Ceylon Hotels Corporation, Ranjith Balasuriya said. He said that special packages are being offered to Sri Lankans and expatriates and also for family outings. A young and energetic hotelier, Chaminda Wajirakumara has been appointed the new manager of the rest house. Medawachchiya rest house is owned and managed by the Ceylon Hotels Corporation which also owns and manages a large number of hotels, rest houses, and food outlets in scenic locations around Sri Lanka. Hotel sources said that there has been a marked improvement in service
and food provided by CHC hotels and rest houses since veteran hotelier,
Bodhisiri Ranasinghe assumed duties as its Chairman. Royal Lotus Hotel - another first : 'Trinco-Mania Tour' a novel concept in domestic tourism by Beverley Jansz Trincomalee, which was a 'dead city' for over ten years, has comeback to life, following the Government's peace accord. Trincomalee has been teeming with both foreign and local tourists, savouring one of the most beautiful beaches Sri Lanka is blessed with. All hotels are recording healthy occupancies. Following the re-awakening of Trincomalee, The Royal Lotus Hotel Giritale which is owned and managed by Jinasena Management Services (Pvt) Ltd, has come up with a novel tour package 'Trinco-Mania Tour', which took off to a flying start last week from the Jinasena Group head office, Hunupitiya Road, Colombo 2, with a load of local tourists, heading for Trincomalee via Giritale, and Polonnaruwa. After a grand dinner overnight stay and breakfast at The Royal Lotus Hotel, Giritale, the luxury air conditioned-coach headed for Trincomalee with stopovers at the 'Hot Wells', Koneswaran Temple and 'Lovers' Leap' enroute to Trincomalee. After savouring the Nilaweli Beach in Trincomalee for several hours, the tour group enjoyed yet another meal - a delicious lunch buffet at the Nilaweli Beach Hotel, followed by tea at the same hotel, after which the tourists were taken back to The Royal Lotus Hotel for yet another evening of entertainment and a lavish dinner and partying at the hotel's discotheque. The next morning the tour group left for an 'excursion' of the ancient ruins of Polonnaruwa, followed by scrumptious lunch buffet. After tea at The Royal Lotus Hotel, the luxury coach left for Colombo. Ms. Nisha Berugoda, the charming and enthusiastic Special Projects Manager, of Jinasena Hotels said that 'Trinco-Mania' will be a six-month weekly domestic tour, and will go on until October this year. 'It is being offered at an unbelievable price' with a host of attractions and 'specials' for children' just to accord Sri Lankans and expatriates an opportunity to savour the tourist potentials of Sri Lanka, specially the beautiful beaches of Trincomalee. A 50-percent discount for children between 6-12 years, and children under six years free of charge, are some of the attractions offered by 'Trinco-Mania' tour, Nisha said. |
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