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| Sunday, 11 December 2005 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Rs. 350 m Eco Tourism center to be built at Loggal Oya by Surekha Galagoda
The Eco Tourism Research and Facilitation Centre at Loggal Oya, a novel concept of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) will be built at a cost of Rs 350 million. Situated 102 miles away from Colombo the project is being handled by the Development and Resort Management Division of the SLTB under the advice of its Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara. According to a spokesman it is the first time such a facility is being built by the SLTB and it will provide 450 direct and indirect job opportunities. He said at present the tourists who visit the Victoria and Randenigala reservoirs have to go back to either Kandy or Mahiyanganaya as they do not have a place to stay. Therefore, under President Mahinda Rajapakse's Mahinda Chintana this is considered a special project.
The project will take three years to complete. The feasibility study has already been completed and at present we are discussing with the Mahaweli Development Authority to acquire the lands, which is around 50 acres. It will include hotels, a public area, an area for entertainment and commercial activities. In the area for hotels there will be luxury accommodation units to attract upmarket tourists, a facilitation centre, ayurvedic hotel and eco lodges while the public area will consist of a research centre, information and interpretation centre, library and a wildlife museum. A separate area will be dedicated for entertainment such as safaris, water sports, adventure activities, camping site, hot air balloon transport, nature view corridors, canopy walks and tree houses.
The area dedicated for commercial activities will house domestic travellers, handicrafts and souvenir shops, agro and livestock farms, gem and jewellery shops and travel and tour operators. The tourist attractions surrounding the Loggal Oya area include mountains with different topography, flora and fauna, fresh water fish collection, birds and butterflies, natural forests, inland fisheries, traditional inland fisheries and agricultural activities and the Loggal Oya reservoir. The proposed tourist segments to be developed within Loggal Oya include inland fishing tourism, nature based tourism, wildlife tourism, reservoir based leisure activities, agro tourism, village tourism, and sports and adventure tourism. He said in the adventure and other activities tourists could indulge in mountaineerng, trekking, rafting/kayaking/canyoning,jungle safari, rock climbing, mountain biking, bird watching, mountain flight, ultra light aircraft, meditation, yoga and ayurveda, paragliding, hot air ballooning, hang gliding, rappelling, angling, elephant safaris, horse safaris, jeep safaris and nature walks. The tourists can also visit the Rathkinda, Ulhitiya, Randenigala, Rantambe and Victoria reservoirs, Soraborawewa, Mahiyanganaya Rajamaha Viharaya, Bibile natural water springs and the Ratna ella falls. The spokesman said that the main objectives of the project are to improve the living standards of the people living in that area, promote and facilitate the development of eco tourism sites, activities and facilities consistent with the principles of eco tourism, educate stakeholders on eco tourism and the economic benefits it will offer the country, expand the range of eco tourism products services and facilities available in Sri Lanka, increase the involvement of the local community, contribute to the conservation of natural eco systems and contribute and influence a more sustainable form of tourism in Sri Lanka through a range of measures such as incentives, education, guidelines, regulations and marketing. ######## Aitken Spence Hotels overall winners The art competition organised by the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka in association with the World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS) was held at the BMICH. Heralded as Sri Lanka's biggest food and hotel show, the competition was held for the 11th year with the participation of 950 chefs with more than 1,250 entries, a media release said. The release said Aitken Spence Hotels in strategic cities in the country caters to a diverse market segment and is famed for its exquisite food and culinary art. Over a period of time the reputation gained in this specialisation has helped to position the chain of hotels as one the best in the region. Aitken Spence Hotels, were the overall winners with 97 medals in this year's competition. As an individual entity Waters Edge, managed by Aitken Spence Hotels emerged as the winner with a Medal tally of 33 including 17 Gold Medals and was closely followed by Kandalama Hotel. Aitken Spence Hotels received 34 Gold Medals including three Gold Medals with Excellence. |
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