Travel

Sethuki caters to entertainment

Sethuki has been setting standards industry by achieving results for a multitude of Sri Lankan recording artists,films and commercial projects. Covering all music genres Sethuki's world class technology, experience and proficiency ensures the best possible results at competitive rates.

The Complex consists of a studio, control rooms, filming and a video editing facility.

A spacious private carpark and sunny courtyard provides space for unwinding in a relaxed, open-air environment.

Sethuki also provides an on site kitchen with full facilities to accommodate producers and artistes.

Sethuki is a result of a dream of its Founder and Chief Audio and Video engineer Sujeewa Nishantha who was production Manager at Nilwala Enterprises.

Website promotes book and tourism

A new website: www.alienmysteries-srilanka.com, consisting of 12 pages, was launched yesterday for promotion of the book: Alien Mysteries in Sri Lanka and Egypt, 4th edition written and published by Mihindukulasuriya Susantha Fernando.

The website focuses on Susantha's book which describes his trail-blazing discovery of the amazing correlation between the ground layout (or triangle) of three major stupas at Anuradhapura (namely, Ruvanmeli, Mirisavati and Jetavana) and the celestial layout (or triangle) of three stars of the Constellation of Orion.

www.alienmysteries-srilanka.com also serves as the portal for attracting tourists to the mysteries of Sri Lanka, especially Susantha's discovery. The new website was hosted by FRS Information Technology (Pvt) Ltd., Malabe, Domain registration was by the UK firm Freehostia. Graphic designing and planning for the 12 pages of the website were by Susantha himself.

The website also introduces Susantha's new concept: ALIEN MYSTERY TOURS offering to take tourists in luxury coaches to the sites of Susantha's historic discovery and thereafter other places of tourist interest in Sri Lanka.

FAM tour for German travel agents

An FAM tour comprising fourteen German travel agents took place May 30 to June 5, to give them a view of the products they are selling at the counter and to increase sales to Sri Lanka. The places covered were the Cultural Triangle, Trincomalee, Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Bentota and Negombo. The SL Tourist Promotion Bureau conducted workshops on sales arguments and product variety.

Tobias Bandara of the SLTPB said: "The increase of 74.6 percent of german arrivals from January to May 2010 compared with the same period in 2009 shows Sri Lanka's potential as a top destination.

By training counter sales staff on location with FAM trips, we ensure that their positive personal experience will lead to more interested holidaymakers to Sri Lanka".

John Keells wins nine awards

The John Keells Group led Sri Lankan tourism companies by winning nine awards at the Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism 2009. This was the highest tally of awards won by a single company.

The event was held on June 15 at the BMICH, under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene.

Of the awards won by John Keells Group, seven went to the Group's leisure inbound sector, with Walkers Tours and Whittals Travel winning Best Domestic Tourism Operator, Best Nature and Adventure Tour Operator (Nature Odyssey), Best Charter Airline Operator (Condor), Best Chauffeur Guide - Pramo Welagedara, Best Guide - Keerthi Wijesinghe, Best Destination Loyal Partner (Foreign) - Kuoni Travel, and Hall of Fame Award for Best Destination Loyal Partner - Kuoni.

The Hall of Fame award was earned by Kuoni for winning the Best Destination Loyal Partner for the third consecutive year.

Cinnamon Grand Colombo won the Luxury Accommodation Best Five Star City Hotel, and Hall of Fame Award for Luxury Accommodation Best Five Star City Hotel, by winning the Best Five Star city Hotel for the third consecutive year.

"We are delighted with this achievement. It is noteworthy that they cover all areas of Destination Management" said Head of Leisure Inbound Sector Vasantha Leelananda.

Commenting on Cinnamon Grand's achievement, General Manager Rohan Karr said "whilst the Hall of Fame Award has cemented the Cinnamon Grand's legacy as a premiere establishment offering services of the highest calibre, The Best Five Star City Hotel Award has reinforced Cinnamon Grand as a market leader."

Aitken Spence bags top awards, enters Hall of Fame

Aitken Spence Travels and its subsidiary Ace Travel and Conventions won the two most important awards given for travel companies, the Best Destination Management Company and the Best Conference Organiser, for the third consecutive year at the Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall on June 15, 2010.

By winning these awards every year since the award scheme was introduced, the two companies have become the first two travel companies to enter the exclusive Hall of Fame.

Aitken Spence Travels continues to demonstrate its leading position in the industry consistently despite challenging circumstances.

As the largest inbound tour operator in Sri Lanka, it has continued to innovate and will upgrade its vehicle fleet to maintain international standards. The first five luxury coaches in the first stage of the investment have arrived and will become operational shortly.

Aitken Spence Travels was the first in Sri Lanka to invest in a fully-automated tour operating system and the first to obtain ISO 9001 and Green Globe certifications 10 years ago. It was also the first travel company in Sri Lanka to receive PATA Gold awards.

A day out with the stars

Starry-eyed schoolchildren from SriLankan Airlines' adopted school in Debarawewa were beaming with joy when they met the dashing young Indian filmstar and humanitarian worker, Vivek Oberoi at the SSC grounds last week.

A group of students from Janadhipathi Prathamika Vidyalaya in Debarawewa accompanied by their principal and some teachers came all the way to Colombo during the IIFA weekend for an experience of a lifetime......to meet their Indian film idols and Sri Lankan cricket stars.

Vivek who himself has a humanitarian program Hope with Children came up to the pavillion to meet with the students.

SriLankan Airlines' Corporate Social Responsibility Program (CSR) for the upliftment of education in rural areas has so far worked with three schools, Janadhipathi Prathamika Vidyalaya Debarawewa, Meepagma Jayanthi Maha Vidyalaya, Kalawana and Al Bahriyah Maha Vidyalaya, Kalmunai.

The Airlines' commitment to the three schools has not been limited to infrastructure and buildings but also to the improvement of the level of education, and facilitating employment to students who have done well at examinations.

The IIFA weekend in Colombo was an opportunity for the airline to give some of the brightest students from Debarawewa School a special treat - a day out with the stars.