Business Travel

Bambawa vihara steeped in history

Galewela central correspondent

Viharas, images, tanks and other inland water canals, stone pillars symbolise the Sinhala culture.

Bambawa, an ancient Vihara in the Galewela Divisional Secretary's division is accessible from the Galewela-Matale road. The village Bambawa is named after King Bamba as borne out by the Bambawa Rajamaha Vihara Varnana.

Legend has it that King Bamba married Kuveni who bore a three-breast daughter to the King. Princess Kuveni who King Bamba wanted to be beheaded was brought up stealthily by the queen and later given in marriage to King Vijaya.

Bamba Vihara is historically important since the premises provided refuge to King Walagamba who was organising the native army against the invading South Indian usurpers. For centuries, the Bambawa Vihara was shrouded in the wilderness having been enveloped by the raging jungle.

It was during the reign of Kandyan King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe that the lonely vihara began to see the light at the end of a long tunnel! It was mainly due to the untiring efforts of the late Urulewatte Sri Dhammadassi Nayaka Thera, who was resident at Asgiriya, reopened the ancient vihara for posterity. He was as it was usual, favoured with the royal patronage to carry out his rehabilitation program at this ancient vihara.

Eventually the vihara came to be occupied by a Viharadhipathi bhikkhu appointed by the Asgiriya Chapter, Gradually the viharaya began to be endowed with all the components such as Sangavasa and Seemamalakaya.

The two invaluable tusks believed to be those belonging to King Valagamba's 'Pushpa Datta' tusker are still treasured at the Vihara. A very old stone inscription, whose writings cannot be deciphered still remain intact. The property of the vihara extends up to 6,000 acres.

A stone bed, supposed to be used by King Walagamba, a stone flight of stairs and the ancient tank still remain as the last vestiges of a past civilisation.

The annual festivals of Gale Bandara and Devatha Bandara devalas of this vihara are conducted with the usual pomp and pageantry.

The chief incumbent, Ven. Devahandiya Sobitha Nayaka Thera and the caretaker Ven. Lenawa Mangala Thera render an enormous service to the advancement of the ancient Vihara.

Emirates packages for Dubai Shopping Festival

The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is exciting. The Emirates' hotel packages starting from US$75 per person per night will make the whole deal that much harder to resist, a media release said.

The packages, valid from January 24 until February 24 apply on a twin sharing basis and provide customers with a choice of accommodation from a range of 18 select properties to suit all pockets.

The packages must be booked for a minimum of three nights and carry the option to extend. The price includes breakfast, transfers between Dubai International Airport and the hotel by chauffeur-driven car and personalised meet-and-assist upon arrival.

Customers receive a special 10 per cent discount on hotelroom tariff, for booking and buying packages online at www.emirates.com. The packages take care of the customer's every need from the moment they disembark at Dubai International Airport where they receive personalised meet-and-assist, an Arabian Adventures Welcome pack.

First and Business Class passengers can even avail of a free chauffeur drive from the Dubai International Airport to the hotel of one's choice.

Departure is facilitated with an additional 10 kg free baggage allowance on return/onward flights from Dubai. For onward-bound passengers, stopover charges are waived.

Emirates Executive Vice President Commercial Operations Worldwide Ghaith Al Ghaith said: "This is about the best time of the year for anyone to visit Dubai - the shopping is great, there is plenty of fun and excitement for the family and the weather is perfect. Every year, the Dubai Shopping Festival just grows bigger and better, drawing in more and more tourists to Dubai.

"Emirates has supported the festival since its inception 12 years ago as part of the airline's mission to promote Dubai worldwide as a tourist destination. We have successfully raised the event's profile worldwide with our global promotional activities and the increasing number of tourists during the month-long festivities is proof that our packages are a great hit with our customers," he said.

The Global Village, the biggest draw during DSF, will remain open for two-and-a-half months till March 31.

Emirates launches new amenity kits

New luxury amenity kits, containing exclusive products by Bvlgari, are now offered to passengers in the First and Business Class cabins on Emirates' long-haul flights.

In developing the new kit, Emirates wanted to link with a popular major brand, give the new product a more luxurious feel and source a supplier through which they could be refreshed on a regular basis.

As part of its agreement with Bvlgari, Emirates has exclusive use of Th, Rouge (Red Tea) products. The men's First and Business Class amenity kit contain Th, Rouge after shave emulsion, eau parfume and body lotion. Those for ladies contain Bvlgari nourishing face emulsion, nourishing hand cream and eau parfume Th, Rouge.

The bags themselves complete the luxury look and feel. The men's First Class bag is made of Italian leather while the Business Class bag is made of canvas with smart leather-look trim.

Ladies in First Class have a brown suede-style and in Business Class a light beige fabric bag. Inside pockets hold the products while a waterproof base protects three of the styles. Divisional Senior Vice President Service Delivery, Terry Daly, said: "We wanted to offer amenity kits that look and feel special and I am confident that we have.

As well as Bvlgari cosmetic products, the amenity kits contain a range of other useful items. All of them are well-known brands which demonstrate Emirates' commitment to quality as well as providing reassurance to our customers.

For instance, toothbrushes are Oral B, toothpaste is Colgate, tissues are Kleenex and, in the men's amenity kit, the razor is from Taylor's of Old Bond Street featuring a Schick replaceable three-blade razor."