Sri Lanka reports record visitor numbers
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has revealed that the country is returning to a strong state of growth following the recent resolution of a civil conflict.
In February this year, the number of visitors to the island climbed to a record level of 48 per cent above that recorded in the same month in 2009.
British travellers have showed particularly strong interest in the destination, with a year-on-year increase of 68 per cent recorded in the number of tourists from the UK last month.
The national tourism authority revealed that three wildlife parks have opened up across Sri Lanka, including Wilpattu, the country's largest nature reserve, which was recently reopened to the public.
Located 176km north of Colombo, the site is home to leopards, Ceylon sloth bears, crocodiles, cobras and many other animal species for adventurous visitors to spot.
Travellers can also head to the south-east of the island to explore the Uda Walawe and Yala parks, which provide a habitat for elephants, monkeys, water buffalo and deer.
People planning to visit Sri Lanka this year can catch flights to Colombo with Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines, British Airways and other carriers.
Tourism promotion in the Northern Province has got off the ground.
The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Army has set up a tourist information centre at Hospital Street in Jaffna town to offer help and facilitate those visiting the Northern peninsula.
After the A-9 Road was reopened, around 300,000 local and foreign tourists arrived in the Northern Province improving the income of farmers, businessmen and the self-employed. The demand for vegetables,fruits, handicrafts and ornamental goods has also increased. The Minister of Tourism has instructed his Ministry Secretary to formulate a scheme to conserve sites of archaeological and religious importance in the North to minimise the damage caused to the environment.
According to the Tourism Development Authority, the number of tourist arrivals in February reached 57,300.
Lanka prime destination for German tourists - Ambassador
(2010-03-18)Germany eases travel advisory :
The German tourists can now visit tourist landmarks in the Eastern Province such as Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara and Arugam Bay as Germany has eased its travel advisory further.
German Ambassador Jens Ploetner, just back from an Eastern tour of tour states that the East has its own charm and has vast tourist potential yet to be tapped.
"Following extensive travel in the Eastern Province we have discovered that no specific security threat exists for tourists anymore," he commented and added that he witnessed large-scale ongoing infrastructure development work. However, the economic conditions of many residents especially of former IDPs still remain bleak, Ambassador Ploetner stated.
"I hope development of tourist-industry in the Province will create new job opportunities substantially."
Making an observation of the overall increase of foreign travel to Sri Lanka Ambassador Ploetner said "the numbers of German tourists have increased over 50 percent in comparison with last year. This no doubt is due to the dawn of peace. I am hopeful that Sri Lanka could once again be a prime destination for German tourists."(dailynews.lk)
KARACHI: Sri Lanka will host the eleventh Asia Cup in June this year, Asian Cricket Council said in a statement.
The tournament will be hosted from Jun 15 to 24 and will include Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Defending champions Sri Lanka will be looking to make a hat-trick of titles, having won the last edition of the tournament in Karachi.
India have won the tournament four times while Pakistan have won once. —APP
Sri Lanka the Gem country
Land for Sapphires and Rubies 
Throughout history, Sri Lanka has been known as a land of gems. King Solomon was said to have procured a great ruby for the Queen of Sheba from Ceylon. Marco Polo wrote of wonderful Ceylon gems.
The Blue Sapphire is king of Sri Lankan gems. The 400 carat Blue Sapphire called “Blue Belle”, which adorns the British Crown, is from Sri Lanka. The beautiful star sapphire misnamed the “Star of India” displayed at a New York’s Museum of Natural History.
Besides rubies and shapphire, the illama soil also bears cat’s eyes, alexandrites, aquamarines, tourmalines, spinels, topaz, garnets, amethyst, zircons and variety of other stones.
Sri Lanka, the island known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean lives up to its nickname as a hotbed for a variety of gems. Sri Lanka is home to 40 varieties of Gems out of 85 varieties available in the whole world. Gems of Sri Lanka have found there way to many a court all over the world since time immemorial.
There are manyNational Parks you can visit in Sri Lanka. Yala is the largest national park. The National Parks of Sri Lanka are managed by the department of Wild Life and Conservation. National Parks are bit different from Wild Life sanctuaries which allow free movements. You need to obtain permission and a guide provided by the park. You are not supposed to get out from the vehicle under any circumstances.
You need drive a 4 WD vehicle and stay only in specified roads.
An elephant drinks milk at an elephant transit home feeding centre in Udawalawe National Park, about 170 km (106 miles) southeast of Colombo, March 22, 2010. The centre cares for orphaned baby elephants until they are strong enough to be released into their natural habitat.
REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte (SRI LANKA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY TRAVEL)
2010-03-23)Two leading Indian cricketers, opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and opening bowler Ashish Nehra called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Janadhipathi Mandiraya, Colombo prior to their return to India after recovery from injuries received while playing in the current IPL series. They suffered injuries while playing in the IPL tournament, which threatened to keep them out of the current series, and were treated in Sri Lanka by reputed Ayurvedic Physician Dr Eliyantha White, at the request of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gambhir and Nehra thanked President Rajapaksa and Dr White for their speedy recovery. They also thanked Sri Lankan cricketer Dilshan Tillekeratne, who is now playing in the IPL, for recommending treatment in Sri Lanka and making arrangements for it through the President. The two cricketers told President Rajapaksa they were fit to return to play in the IPL in the next few days. Earlier, star Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar had also been successfully treated for a sports injury by Dr White, at the request of President Rajapaksa. (dailynews.lk).
