treasureisland.lk
JUNE - JULY 2014
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EDITOR IN CHIEF Harsha Udayakantha Peiris
SUB EDITOR Rikaza Hassan CONTRIBUTORS FROM MAIDEN ISSUE Prof. Rohana P. Mahaliyanaarachchi Dept. of Agri Business Management of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka Dr. Iraj Ratnayake Dept. of Tourism Management of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka Dr. Ashoka Dangolla Senior Lecturer of University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka and Veterinary Specialist Anslem de Silva - The President of Amphibia and Reptile Research Organization of Sri Lanka (ARROS) Dr. Ruchira Somaweera – Senior Zoologist, BIOLOGIC Environmental Survey, Australia Vasantha Nugegoda – Zoologist and Animal Habitat Specialist Chamalka Kothalawala – Taxidermist, National Museums, Colombo Sri Lanka Chandima Jayaweera – The Most Outstanding Chauffeur Tourist Guide (Nature & Wildlife) SLTA 2012 Raju Vyas – Gujarat, India Indaka karunadasa – Journalist Teshani Wanninayake - Freelance writer Inoka Palliyaguru – Journalist Sri Lanka Tourism National Museums Colombo
PHOTOGRAPHY Aloka I de Silva Chandima Jayaweera Maheesha Mindula Warna Liyanawatte Sanju Samarasinghe Suranga Cooray K. Herath Achintha Dahanayake Upul De Zoysa
TRADITIONAL
GARA YAKSHA THE DEVIL WHO CURES
COMPLEX OF CARTS AT THE MARTIN WICKRAMASINGHE MUSEUM
CONSULTANT EDITOR Renuka Bandaranayake DEPUTY EDITOR Rathindra Kuruwita
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TRANSPORT
AT MARTIN WICKRAMASINGHE MUSEUM IN KOGGALA THERE EXISTS A COMPLEX OF CARTS THAT DEPICTS A SEGMENT OF EARLY TRANSPORTATION METHODOLOGIES OF THE DOWN SOUTH AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY . IT IS A UNIQUE AND AN INTERESTING ADDITION TO THE MUSEUM THAT TELLS OF THE VIVID TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS OF THE PEOPLE HERE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND TOPOGRAPHICALLY FRIENDLY MEANS AND METHODOLOGIES UTILIZED BY THE COMMUNITIES TO FULFILL SUCH REQUIREMENTS.
RITUALS IN SRI LANKA HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OR FEATURES THAT SOMETIMES SLIGHTLY VARY ACCORDING TO THE SETTLEMENTS IN DIFFERENT TOPOGRAPHICAL ARRAYS. MAINLY, THEY ARE DIVIDED AND WELL KNOWN AS UPCOUNTRY, LOW-COUNTRY, DOWN-SOUTH AND SABARAGAMUWA PERFORMANCES. THE ‘GARA YAKSHA’ PERFORMANCE IS ONE SUCH RITUAL PERFORMED MAINLY IN THE DOWN SOUTH BUT ALSO IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AT SEVERAL MILESTONE EVENTS OF SOCIAL AS WELL AS PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THE PEOPLE.
22 18 EDUCATION TOURISM
COLONIAL
KDU MAKES SL A DESTINATION FOR EDUCATION
COLONIAL TEA ESTATE POWER HOUSE ON 15 MARCH 1912, THE FIRST HYDRO-ELECTRICITY POWER HOUSE WAS OPENED IN SRI LANKA, IN NUWARA ELIYA, BY THE THEN GOVERNOR SIR HENRY MACLLAM. TRAVELING ALONG THE A5 PERADENIYA – BADULLA – CHENKALADI HIGHWAY OFF WELIMADA TOWN AND BETWEEN WELIMADA AND ETTAMPITIYA THERE STANDS AN ANCIENT COLONIAL HYDRO-POWER HOUSE THAT TELLS ANOTHER STORY OF THE TEA PLANTATIONS AND ESTATE LIVES HERE OF THE BYGONE ERA.
THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF GENERAL SIR JOHN KOTELAWALA DEFENCE UNIVERSITY ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES ALSO KNOWN TO MANY AS KDU REVEALS OF THE UNSURPASSED CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE UNIVERSITY, TO HIGHLIGHT SL AS AN EFFECTIVE DESTINATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
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BELIEFS
RELIVING THE RAMAYANA IN NUWARA ELIYA THE EXISTENCE OF THE SITA AMMAN KOVIL THE ONLY ‘SITA TEMPLE’ IN THE WORLD BUILT ALONG THE LINES OF SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLES, NEXT TO A CLEAR STREAM WHERE THE GUIDES OF THE TEMPLE ASSURE THAT PRINCESS SITA IN ‘RAMAYANA’ BATHED, SAT ON THE STONES OF THE BANK AND PRAYED.
MARKETING
Santhush Fernando Head Of Business Promotion Nilan Wijeratna Head of E- Marketing
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CROPS CEYLON TEA" - SRI LANKA'S GIFT TO THE WORLD REACHING 150 YEARS OF CEYLON TEA
GRAPHICS
Brainwave Advertising
TEA WAS INTRODUCED TO SRI LANKA (THEN CEYLON) BY THE BRITISH ON A COMMERCIAL SCALE IN 1867. TEA IS APPROXIMATELY 5000 YEARS OLD, FIRST DISCOVERED IN CHINA AND BECAME POPULAR IN EUROPE AND THEIR COLONIES IN 1600’S. THE PORTUGUESE DEVELOPED A TRADE ROUTE TO SHIP TEA FROM CHINA TO LISBON AND THE DUTCH SHIPS TRANSPORTED IT TO HOLLAND AND FRANCE. GREAT BRITAIN WAS THE LAST OF THE GREAT SEA-FAIRING NATIONS TO BREAK INTO THE CHINESE AND EAST INDIAN TRADE ROUTES.
DISTRIBUTION AND LOGISTICS Global Media Holdings (pvt) Ltd PRINTING Commercial Printing & Packaging (pvt) Ltd Opinions expressed in Sri Lanka The Treasure Island are those of writers, and may not necessarily be the view of Global Media Holdings (pvt) Limited or its employees. Readership is advised to seek advice from specialists before acting on information published in the magazine.
Production and Advertising
Global Media Holdings (Pvt) Limited 23/5A, Sunethradevi Mawatha, Kohuwala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka General: (+94) 11 2 199 077, (+94) 77 3 995 651 Marketing: (+94) 77 3 688 912, (+94) 77 3 688 911 info@treasureisland.lk |treasureisland.lk
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FLAVOURS
THE UNIQUE ART OF TEA TASTING SRI LANKA HAS BEEN PROFOUNDLY BLESSED WITH AN ARRAY OF DIVERSE CLIMATES. THUS A DIVERSE COMBINATION OF TEA PRODUCTION HAS BEEN DISCOVERED FROM LATTER PART OF 19TH CENTURY. SRI LANKAN TEA POPULARLY KNOWN AS ‘CEYLON TEA’ IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST TEA EXPORTED AND IS BEEN DEVELOPED TO CATER THE TASTES OF TEA DRINKERS ALL AROUND THE WORLD. EVERY YEAR 4 BILLION KILOS OF TEA IS MANUFACTURED AND EXPORTED AROUND THE GLOBE.
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UPHILLS
OODOOWERA TEA ESTATE AND FACTORY – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE VIEW THE OODOOWERA TEA ESTATE LIES IN THE BADULLA DISTRICT OF THE UVA PROVINCE BELONGS TO FINLAY TEA ESTATES WHICH WERE FORMED BY HAPUGASTENNA PLANTATIONS PLC AND UDUPUSSELLAWA PLANTATIONS PLC. IN THE ESTATE PREMISES THERE LIES AN ANCIENT AREAL CABLE-WAY BUILT BY THE BRITISH PLANTERS TO BRING THE PRODUCE THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN TOPS TO REACH FROM ONE TO ANOTHER AND FINALLY TO THE TEA FACTORY.
CONTENTS
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ARTS PUPPETEERING – THE NEW COMBACK KID AMBALANGODA IN THE DOWN-SOUTH IS QUITE FAMOUS AMONG SRI LANKANS, FOR ITS PUPPETEERS. THE PUPPETS ARE USUALLY CUT FROM ‘KADURU’ TREES AND THEY ARE CARVED INTO INTRICATE CHARACTERS THAT COME FROM SRI LANKAN FOLKLORE. GAMBARI PREMIN THE WELL-KNOWN PUPPET MASTER WHO HAS BEEN WORKING OVERTIME TO HELP KEEP THE ANCIENT FOLK ART ALIVE WITH AQ BIT OF HELP FROM SRI LANKA TOURISM STATES OF AN ART AND INDUSTRY THAT ADDS COLOR TO THE LIVES OF A HAPPY NATION.
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DEVELOPMENTS
SANCHARAKA UDAWA 2014 – ALEVATION TO THE SRI LANKAN TOURISM INDUSTRY THE SRI LANKA TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS SHOWN A REMARKABLE SUCCESS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND THE GOAL OF ATTRACTING 2.5 MILLION TOURIST ARRIVALS IN THE YEAR 2016 SEEMS TO BE A REACHABLE CHALLENGE SO FAR. THE ‘SANCHARAKA UDAWA’ TOURISM EXHIBITION IS A RESULT OF A JOINT COLLABORATION TO UPLIFT THE PRIVATE SECTOR TOURISM.
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NATURE
THE VIVID WORLD OF BUTTERFLIES IN SRI LANKA THERE ARE 245 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES. THEY ARE FOUND BOTH IN THE HILL COUNTRY AND THE LOWLANDS. ACCORDING TO RESEARCHERS, THE DISTRIBUTION OF BUTTERFLIES IS RELATED TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF HOSTING PLANTS.
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INDUSTRIAL FOR ANYONE WHO REALLY LOVES GOOD TEA, AWESOME CHOCOLATE CAKE AND TO HAVE THEM IN PICTURESQUE SURROUNDINGS, ITS ONES-TOP AT MACKWOODS AT LABOOKELIE..
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AROMA
HDDES – SUCCESS WITH ELEMENTS
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ECO
MADOLKELLE TEA & ECO LODGE – A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE MADOLKELLE TEA & ECO LODGE, THE 4 STAR INTERNATIONAL ECO FACILITY IS FIRST OF ITS KIND IN SRI LANKA THAT OFFERS A REVOLUTIONARY AND CONTEMPERORY CONCEPT OF THE TRADITIONAL WARMTH AND HOSPITALITY THAT SRI LANKA IS FAMOUS FOR. PHILIPPE GOMEZ – THE PROPRIETOR AND THE CHIEF INVESTOR OF THE HOTEL BRIEFS OF AN INNOVATIVE TEA AND ECO CONCEPT IN SRI LANKA.
THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS BOOMING IN SRI LANKA AND MANY IN HOUSE COMPANIES OPT FOR A GREENER AND ORGANIC MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS IN ORDER TO ATTRACT MANY OF THE ENVIRONMENT SAVVY CONSUMERS. HDDES GROUP HAS BEEN ON BUSINESS FOR ALMOST 35 YEARS USING THE BEST GREEN CONCEPTS TO INFUSE THEIR PRODUCTS.
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NEWS CINNAMON RECEIVED THE 1ST GOVERNMENT SPONSORSHIP IN CEYLON AS A PLANTATION DURING THE COUNTRY WAS UNDER DUTCH AROUND OF 1769. BY 1825 COFFEE HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO CEYLONESE. IN 1824 THE 1ST TEA PLANT WAS BROUGHT TO CEYLON BY THE BRITISH. IT WAS BROUGHT FROM CHINA AND WAS PLANTED AT THE ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS AT PERADENIYA IN KANDY. BY 1880S TEA PRODUCTION IN CEYLON SAW A DRAMATIC INCREASE. IT WAS INCREASINGLY POPULAR AT AUCTIONS. ACCORDING TO STATISTICS,OVER 1MILLION SRILANKANS HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED IN THE TEA INDUSTRY DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY. A LARGE NUMBER OF WORKFORCE IS YOUNG WOMEN. AS SINHALESE PEOPLE REJECTED WORKING IN THE PLANTATIONS AS LABOURERS, INDIAN TAMIL PEOPLE WERE BROUGHT TO SRI LANKA DURING EARLY COFFEE PLANTATIONS HERE. THEY ALSO HAD TO ENGAGE IN THE DOMESTIC CHORES AT THE “LINES”, KNOWN AS THEIR HOMES. TYPICALLY THERE ARE 6 TO 24 LINE ROOMS IN ONE BARRACK. ABOUT 6 TO 15 FAMILY MEMBERS USUALLY LIVE IN ONE LINE ROOM TOGETHER. DESPITE THIS HARD LIFE IN DUTY OR DOMESTIC CHORES, TODAY THESE EMPLOYEES WHO DO HARD LABOUR IN THE TEA PLANTATION ESPECIALLY IN THE UPCOUNTRY HAVE ADDED MUCH MORE TO THE BEAUTIFUL CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF SRILANKA. Pix by; Sanju Samarasinghe
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TRANSPORT
THE COMPLEX OF
CARTS
MARTIN
AT THE
WICKRAMASINGHE MUSEUM A pictorial by Harsha Udayakantha Peiris
B
efore the year 1942, there were about one thousand families in Koggala in the South and close to Galle, the southern tourist destination of Sri Lanka. Elephant Cart - The elephant cart was used to carry coconut, paddy and other commodities and were common in the Batticaloa District. This elephant cart owned by 'Maha Mudali' – Sir Soloman Dias Bandaranaike was donated by the late Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
During the Second World War those who lived in the village of Koggala were evacuated within 24 hours to build an airstrip for the Royal Air Force (RAF). “In the course of building the airstrip, all the houses were levelled to the ground. The house in which the great novelist and philosopher Martin Wickramasinghe was born was the only one that was spared because its simplicity and charming appearance enticed a female officer of the RAF to live in it,” a wooden plaque fixed on an outer wall of the house where Martin
Wickramasinghe was born states. This house is more than 200 years old. When the great Sinhala writer Martin Wickramasinghe was a child the only houses with sturdy lime plastered walls were those of the village temple, the physician, the teacher and of the headman. The house was restored to Martin Wickramasinghe in 1962 by the then Governor of Sri Lanka. After his death the Martin Wickramasinghe Trust has undertaken to preserve this house and
the land that surrounds it as a parkland recreating the serene memories of a bygone era. At present, it is a part of the national heritage of Sri Lanka, attracting thousands of visitors of all ages from all parts of Sri Lanka and the world to grab a unique opportunity to see and experience for themselves the authenticity, uniqueness and true taste of southern life. Today this property is a complex of museums that depict various aspects of traditional communities especially in the southern part of Sri Lanka. The complex of carts here is a unique and interesting addition that tells of the vivid transport requirements of the people here and the environmental and topographically friendly means and methodologies utilised by the communities to fulfil such requirements.
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Buggy Carts. A larger version of the buggy cart known as the Negombo Buggy Cart . Its canopy is elegantly made. Much bigger carts of this type drawn by bullocks are seen in Negombo and Chilaw areas.
A distant view of the ancestral home of Martin Wickramasinghe and the garden surrounding it.
The complex of carts at the Martin Wickramasinghe Museum A type of passenger cart drawn by a single bull which was a popular form of transport until recent times.
A model of the traditional workplace of the blacksmith in the museum compound.
Bullock Cart – A type of cart mainly used for transporting goods.
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Models of two grainaries that stored paddy, built in the backdrop of the museum complex. A model of the traditional village house in a rural village. A spacious buggy cart for comfortable travel with a fixed canopy. Three passengers could travel in it. This type of cart can be seen even now in the Southern Province.
Horse Carriage – The horse drawn carriage is similar to the one described in Martin Wickramasinghe’s famous novel ‘Gamperaliya’. The cart was used by the village elite for their transport. The same carriage was used in the ‘Gamperaliya’ teledrama.
Racing Cart – A cart drawn by a single bull that was used for high speed travelling and cart races. It was popular among the rural youth to show off their gallantry. Hand Cart – A cart used to carry goods to and from the market place.
Bullock Cart with Canopy – A cart drawn by two bulls used for transporting goods and passengers.
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Temple Tricycle - Buddhist priests were taken to the venue of ‘Dhamma’ preaching in this tricycle. Similar carts were also used by officials for their traveling. It was wheeled by man. This tricycle has been donated by a temple in the south.
TRADITIONAL
Gara Yaksha
the devil who cures
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I
n Sri Lankan culture there exist many rituals that are performed at milestone events of the people’s lives. Although there are many traditional rituals that are performed to cure ill fated diseases and bring comfort to the lives of the people by breaking the frequencies of such diseases through the mechanism of destroying the seed of the disease by means of the sound of drums, voice and rhythmic movement the body of the performers and there are parts of the same ritual or several other forms of rituals that are performed wishing prosperity, happiness and long life to a youth at his or her most important events of education, social achievement or life. These rituals have their own distinctive characteristics or features that sometimes slightly vary according to the settlements in different topographical arrays. Mainly, they are divided and well known as upcountry, lowcountry, down south and ‘Saparagamuwa’ performances. The Gara Yaksha performance or 'Gara Yakuma' is one such ritual performed mainly in the down south but also in other parts of the country at several milestone events of social as well as personal significance to the people of Sri Lanka. Here, the main performer, wearing the mask of Gara Yaksha (the devil known as Gara Yaksha) dances and performs to the rhythmic beating of the drums. The particular drum used here is known as Yak Beraya (the devil drum), which is distinctive to lowcountry dances. During the dance the main masked dancer plays several segments, the most interesting being the fire dance with two torches known as Vilakku in both hands finally ending up with the last ritual on a stage known as 'Ailaya.' He even eats fire. The Gara Yaksha performance lasts for more than an hour consisting of verses of well-wishing that connects with Buddhist teachings and preaching, and utterances of laughter to keep the audience attentive and alive throughout. It is frequently performed in an open arena during the evening or early night hours. But in the suburbs, the Gara Yaksha performance is also performed in the day time to remove any evil or ill fated influences from a person’s life at a milestone event of social or personal importance. At the end of the performance the audience offers money which is placed on the tray brought around by the masked dancer, as an expression of gratitude for their performance to bring good wishes to the lives of the people gathered around. Today, a traveler or tourist to Sri Lanka who will definitely like to have a firsthand experience of such a traditional ritual performance has to pay a large sum in
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order to be among the audience of a theatrical performance. To the foreigner these dances are only known as devil dances or mask dances. But a vigilant traveler or tourist who would like to deviate from his or her official itinerary for a while can still go in search to find a real traditional ritual performed in an open arena and for a genuine cause. Here, sometimes the visitor may also be lucky to taste a sweet home made traditional oil cake and a cup of fresh tea as the audience at such a performance in a village or village temple is served with milk rice with chilli paste and sweetmeats such as oil cakes by the head of the family or the main person who organized the function. Following is a picture essay of a recent Gara Yaksha performance held in the Kalubowila Hath Bodhiya Raja Maha Vihara temple in Dehiwala in Colombo to bring good luck to a group of ten young beautiful girls who made their maiden appearance of upcountry dancing known as ‘Kala Eli Mangalya’ - a kind of graduation in dancing following years of training and education of up-country dancing under a teacher. (Special thanks to Ven. Kanawarelle Kassapa Thero – Chief Incumbent of the Kalubowila Hath Bodhiya Raja Maha Viharaya; Ms. P. Thilini Anuruddhi Gomis, Mrs. Renuka Guruge and Mr. K. Guruge) Pic. by Sandali Subhagya Peiris
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COLONIAL
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COLONIAL
TEA ESTATE
POWER
HOUSE By Indaka Karunadasa
A
ttampitiya (Ettampitiya) lies in the central hills in Sri Lanka, in the Badulla District in the Uva Province. Ettampitiya is not a busy bazaar, but the area consists of lush tea plantations. The Ettampitiya area has many tales to tell of Portuguese battles fought in this area in ancient times. Nearby is an ancient fort built by the Portuguese but is now in ruins. When the British introduced tea plantations to Sri Lanka, all the machinery in the factory were worked manually due to the lack of electricity at that time. But on 15 March 1912, the first hydroelectricity power house was opened in Sri Lanka, in Nuwara Eliya, by then Governor Sir Henry Macllam. Sir Henry Macllam was the Governor of Sri Lanka from 1907 to 1913. Sir Henry ordered engineer Rightland to generate electricity for the Queen's House in Nuwara Eliya. Rightland used boiling water to generate electricity. In 1910 Rightland and Wimaladharmasooriya (a local engineer) used the Gregory’s lake dam and built a hydropower house near Black Pool. This was the first electricity power house in Sri Lanka. Later, some tea planters imported hydropower generators from England and they also generated electricity for their tea factories as well as for their bungalows by using nearby water streams. When you travel along the A-5, Peradeniya-Badulla-Chenkaladi highway after passing Welimada town (between Welimada and Ettampitiya) you’ll come across Hangile ella village near the 99/8 culvert bridge. Near this bridge there is an ancient colonial hydropower house which belongs to the Ettampitiya Tea Estate. The Ettampitiya Tea Estate belongs to Malwatte Valley Plantations Limited. Malwatte Valley Plantations is a subsidiary of Wayaba Plantations (Pvt) Ltd. Malwatte Valley Plantations has twenty tea estates in Sri Lanka located in Bandarawela, Badulla and Avissawella.
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This hydropower house was built in the colonial era. It is still in working condition. Some people say that this is the first hydropower plant in Sri Lanka. To rotate the turbines in the power plant to generate electricity, free flowing water is used. The Uma Oya stream is found nearby. Uma Oya is a major sub stream of Mahaweli River. A dam was built at a higher point in Uma Oya as an anicut. From this anicut, as well as from a canal, water was transported to the hydropower house. Mud and silt were drained and washed off, and other bigger particles of debris were collected in a wire mesh and pulled out from the canal. Then water was sent through metal pipes to the turbines. The water was then let back into the Uma Oya flowing below the hydropower house The generated power is transferred to the transformer nearby, from which electricity is generated. Inside the power house the floor is lined with granite bricks. There are two turbines inside the power house and they are in good working condition. The oldest generator has been installed in 1931. People say that there was an even older generator, installed before 1931, but that its turbine was damaged and it was thus removed and a new one installed in 1931. The other one is a new one installed in the 1980s. Special thanks to the Chairman and the board of management of Malwatte Valley Plantations Ltd, and the
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EDUCATION TOURISM
K DU MAKES SL A
DESTINATION FOR
EDUCATION An interview by Malkini Chandrasiri
The KDU situated at a picturesque environment
S
ri Lanka has been an island that has had excellent artists, brilliant scholars and exceptional kings throughout the country’s history. From the time of King Maha Ravana, one of the most venerated and famous kings of Sri Lanka who is believed to have built the first vehicle to conquer the skies known as the ‘Dandu Monara’, Sri Lanka has been a country with skilled and educated citizens. At present the literacy rate of Sri Lanka is 91.2% and there is no gender, race, caste or creed discrimination when it comes to education in Sri Lanka. Today, the country has opened its doors to overseas students who are willing to join universities in Sri Lanka to gain the vast amount of knowledge the country has to offer. ‘Sri Lanka the Treasure Island’ is giving our readers some insight into one of the country’s most prestigious universities - ‘General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University’ also known as KDU. The Vice Chancellor of KDU Major General Milinda Peiris, in this edition joins us to enlighten our readers of the opportunities extended to foreign students who are willing to join the University to pursue higher studies in Sri Lanka. What do you think about promoting Sri Lanka as a destination for education? Yes, promoting Sri Lanka as a destination for education is our main aim. The Mahinda Chinthana, the vision of the President of Sri Lanka to develop the country has envisioned five hubs that should be developed in order for the country to flourish. And education is
1. 2. 1. The foundation stone being laid for the new Faculty of Graduate Studies Building by the Vice Chancellor of KDU Major General Milinda Peiris
2.
2. The previous year’s champions light the Olympic torch at the KDU annual sports meet 2014 3. KDU demonstrating its excellence at the 'Deyata Kirula' Mega Exhibition 2014. Minister of Telecommunications and IT Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa are also in the picture
one of these five hubs. In line with this, we want to make KDU an international university. And to realise that we need to have overseas students and international staff at KDU. This was a milestone achieved by KDU and has henceforth helped Sri Lanka to be reintroduced as a destination for both tourism and education. Do you think promoting Sri Lanka as an island for education is successful? Well, Sri Lanka is very well known for its hospitality. So I think that the country has turned out to be successful in drawing many foreign students. More importantly, this is due to the high standards of the country’s education system, especially the standard of higher education in medicine. Clinical training for medicine in Sri Lanka can be rated as excellent, and this is one of the reasons for KDU to have drawn many foreign students to join KDU. These students are taken to some of the best hospitals in the capital including the General Hospital in Colombo to give them the essential clinical training in the most conducive environment. This type of training helps students to gather a great amount of experience and to develop their skills.
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Another important aspect is that we are giving higher education in all subjects in the English medium. This makes it easy for students from any country with some knowledge of English to grasp knowledge effortlessly. And another reason for our success is that we have some renowned professors and lecturers in our faculties, and whenever we need we obtain the service of professors from other universities for some subject modules. How does the military based curriculum work to the advantage of foreign students? In KDU we have two streams: officer cadet and day scholar. Only the military cadets, who join the Army, Navy or Air Force will receive military training. The day scholars who read for KDU degrees do not attend military training. But of course, the advantage of joining KDU is that we ensure an environment in which their leadership qualities and personalities are developed during the learning period. What we want is a balanced student who is positive minded and ready to work for his or her own country. These attributes we will foster in our students when they are in KDU through leadership training programmes. We also inculcate discipline, and the students live in a
disciplined environment. Being the only university in South East Asia to offer graduate courses in defence studies, is there a high demand for this offer by foreign students? Yes, in fact countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Maldives have always sent some cadets for defense study courses. KDU offers two full scholarships to all SAARC countries each year. These students have to travel to Colombo but once they get to the University and until they leave KDU we look after them. Have you opened your doors for foreign civil students? Yes, there are a number of degree programmes for foreign students. The University offers Bachelor’s Degrees in medicine and surgery; engineering degrees like aeronautical, aircraft, biomedical, mechatronics, civil, electrical and electronic, electronic and telecommunication, marine and mechanical; computer science; information and communication technology; law; logistics management; social sciences and management and technical science. The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences offers BSc degrees in nursing, physiotherapy, medical laboratory sciences, radiography and pharmacy. KDU also offers a BSc degree in preregistration nursing (international) and a nursing top up degree from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), United Kingdom. These degrees are fully fledged four-year degrees, conducted by the best professors, lecturers and staff the country could offer. Does KDU have collaborations with other international universities? Yes, we are a part of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, which is one of the largest organizstions to which a vast number of international universities are linked. We are also a member of the International Association of Universities (IAU). What are the most popular degrees sought after by foreign students? The degrees in medicine and surgery (MBBS), aeronautical engineering, aircraft maintenance engineering and the LLB are very popular among foreign students. And also at present, there is a high demand for the BSc degree in logistics management. The demand for these courses as well as for some other degree courses is so high that the University has set up aptitude tests to select the best out of the vast number of applicants both local and foreign.
Does a foreign student have the ability to concentrate on more than one degree? A student can only concentrate on one degree at a time. They can do another degree depending on the degree he or she chooses to concentrate on. For example, if a student wants to do a BSc in logistics management and would also like to do the LLB degree, it can be arranged. But they cannot follow two courses simultaneously; it should be one after the other. This is because the other degree programmes require the candidate to be between the ages of 18-24 years by the closing date of applications, while the LLB degree has an extended age limit of up to 30 years. Is KDU expanding both its territory and its degree programmes?
What are the facilities given to foreign students by the University? We provide accommodation facilities with food. We charge an additional $250 for this, but we look into all their needs. We have facilities necessary to practice many sports. We do not charge any fee from the students for any of the sports facilities given by the University. It is compulsory for foreign students to have medical insurance, but we look after them when they are sick. The University has a collaboration with Lanka Hospitals which is one of the best private hospitals in Sri Lanka and also with Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation if any foreign student needs medical attention or treatment. Do the foreign students obtain the results expected by the University standards? Is there a good connection between lecturers and foreign students? Yes, we are happy to say that most of the time they do obtain the results expected by the University standards. We always try to help them out and remind them of the reason they have joined KDU. The students have to be serious, dedicated and committed towards studies. We treat the foreign students well. If they have any issues about a particular subject the lecturers are always ready to help them out. And the bond between the students and the lecturers has led both parties to enjoy their time at KDU. Does the University have any future plans for the advantage of foreign students?
The Vice Chancellor of KDU Major General M P Peiris RWP RSP USP ndc psc M Phil (D&SS) PGD Mgt
Of course, in 2015 we are opening our southern campus in Sevenagala, close to Hambantota where students would be able to concentrate on four new degree BSc programmes - architecture, quantity surveying, surveying sciences and industrial information systems - and the prevailing degree on ICT. Can a foreign student who has completed his or her Bachelor’s degree in his or her motherland join KDU to concentrate on a Masters degree? Yes, we have Masters Degrees in many areas. The law students have the LLM Degree which is one of the most popular Masters degree programmes at KDU. We also have MBA Degrees in logistics management, e-governance and several other Masters degree programs.
Yes, we are expanding. As I have explained earlier, we are opening our regional campus in Sevanagala with some of the most important degree programmes of very high demand. Even the newest faculty, the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences presently located within the Faculty of Medicine will be shifted to Werehera where we are opening a new faculty building by July 2014. We are also expanding the Engineering Faculty as the existing faculty space is not sufficient for the high demand from students eager to obtain engineering degrees. We will be increasing the number of foreign students, but it will be proportionate to the local numbers. So any student longing for a disciplined and friendly educational environment is most welcome to apply and join KDU to obtain a degree of their preference. (Pics courtesy of KDU)
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BELIEFS
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RELIVING
THE RAMAYANA
IN NUWARA
R
ELIYA
By Rathindra Kuruwita
amayana, one of the greatest Hindu epics of all time, if not one of the great epics of any tradition of literature, tells us about the war between Prince Rama, the seventh avatar of God Vishnu, and King Ravana, the king of Sri Lanka, over the abduction of Princess Sita, the avatar of Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort. Rama defeats Ravana with the assistance of Hanuman, the monkey king portrayed as the eleventh avatar of Shiva after a struggle of cosmic proportions. There are hundreds of millions of both Hindus and Buddhists who insist that the events of Ramayana actually took place and each year a large number of people take the Ramayana Trail, a journey visiting the sites described in the epic. Although traditionally the trail consisted of sites in India and Nepal in recent years many devotees have shown an active interest in visiting the Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka. WHERE PRINCESS SITA WAS KEPT
Legend has it that Princess Sita, kidnapped by King Ravana, was held in a forest of Asoka trees during her captivity in Sri Lanka and there are some who believe that she was held around Nuwara Eliya. The concentration of Asoka trees, the discovery of three idols, one of which was that of Sita, almost a century ago, the belief that King Ravana’s palace was located near the vicinity and odd shaped holes on the granite rock supposed to be footprints of Hanuman convinced devotees a while back that a spot five kilometres away from Nuwara Eliya town along the road to Kandy was where Sita was imprisoned by King Ravana. Thus came to existence the Sita Amman Kovil, “the only Sita temple in the world”, built along the lines of South Indian temples, next to a clear stream where the guides of the temple assure you that Princess Sita bathed, sat on the stones of the bank, and prayed. The temple can be found five kilometres away from Nuwara Eliya on the Kandy-Nuwara Eliya road. “This has been a place of worship for centuries, if not millennia. Three idols were found at this site a century ago which indicated that”, said one of the caretakers of the temple. “There is a heavy concentration of Asoka trees around the temple and you might remember that the Ramayana states that the Princess was held captive in an Asoka forest. There is also a spot in the stream where the water is tasteless; the Ramayana states that Sita cursed the water and we believe that's the place she cursed. Adjacent to the Sita Kovil we also have a Hanuman temple.” According to the caretakers of the temple there is also evidence that Hanuman, the monkey god, has been here. They point at odd shaped holes on the granite banks of the stream and state that those holes were made where Hanuman stepped. “The pooja times of the temple are between 8 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6.30 pm. We have a large number of devotees each day and a lot of foreigners who know about the Ramayana visit the site,” said a caretaker. HUGE POTENTIAL During our visit to the colourful temple we observed that a large number of foreigners, mostly of Indian origin, at the site taking a keen interest in the story of the place. With the ever increasing interest in the Ramayana and the debate on whether these events actually took place there is huge tourism potential here and attractions like this temple might be what's needed to attract tourists to Nuwara Eliya throughout the year, instead of just a few months of the year. JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 25
Scenes from Sita Kovil
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CROPS
"Ceylon Tea" Sri Lanka's Gift
to the World Reaching 150 years of Ceylon Tea
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T
ea was introduced to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) by the British on a commercial scale in 1867. Tea is approximately 5000 years old, first discovered in China and became popular in Europe and their colonies in 1600’s. The Portuguese developed a trade route to ship tea from China to Lisbon and the Dutch ships transported it to Holland and France. Great Britain was the last of the great sea-fairing nations to break into the Chinese and East Indian trade routes. After the treaty of Nanking in 1840 and control of India, tea became an important part to British trade. However, the commercial level of tea plantation became a reality in Sri Lanka due to the destruction of coffee plantation by a leaf disease. The tea production of Sri Lanka is oriented predominantly towards the conventional type of orthodox manufacture. The Cut-Tear-Curl (CTC) method of manufacture which is very popular in African countries and India is limited to about 7% in Sri Lanka. The annual tea production of Sri Lanka has moved upto approximately 320 million kilograms today and accounts for 8% of the global tea production Sri Lanka exports almost 95% of its production and has been able to maintain her global exports share at around 18%. A few decades ago the country was exporting only black tea in bulk form but today it’s exports profile has gone through significant development to cater to the changing world consumer demand. The product range includes black tea, green tea, instant tea, organic tea, flavoured tea and RTD tea products. The export of organic or bio tea was commenced several decades ago and at present the organic tea volume has reached 1000 MT. per year while instant tea volume is approximately 1500 MT. Green tea is another segment that experienced a rapid growth and today the export of green tea has increased up to 3000 MT per year. Sri Lanka exports a large quantity of tea packets and tea bags to add value to its tea than any other tea producing country in the World. The value added tea exports account for more than 40% of the total export volume. Ceylon Tea is exported in a wide range of packets i.e. box board cartons, foil packs, soft wooden boxes, metal cans, ceramic jars, wooden boxes etc. The tea bags component has now reached 35 million kgs (Close to 10% of total exports) per annum. Sri Lanka teas reach approximately 160 countries today. Firstly, it was the Middle Eastern markets which opened the door for Ceylon Tea. At present over 50% Ceylon Tea exports reach Middle Eastern countries. UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Tunisia and Lebanon are the leading importing countries of Ceylon Tea in the Middle East and Gulf region. Since early 1990s, the Russian Federation and CIS
countries emerged as major buyers of Ceylon Tea. In fact, Russia is the single largest buyer of Ceylon Tea now and her annual offtake from Sri Lanka is approximately 60 Million Kgs. The European Union is also a significant buyer of Ceylon Tea and her annual import volume from Sri Lanka is around 30 million kgs while Japan, Australia and Far Eastern countries absorb another volume of 25 million kgs. The Northern American markets of USA and Canada too import more than 5 million kgs of Ceylon tea per year. 24% of tea is produced on corporate estates and 76% by small holders, who sell the raw leaf to processing factories. Cost of production is the highest among major origins due to low yields, high cost artisanal processes and high relative cost of labour. Considering this, and the premium qualities of Ceylon Tea, it has to be sold at higher price levels than other origins. This has happened thus far but could be at risk if a concerted effort if not made to rebuild the premium, aspirational position of Ceylon tea, highlighting its superiority to other origins. There would be a major socio-economic impact of a reduction in tea prices and if they do not grow in line with production cost/cost of living increases.
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INDIVIDUALITY OF CEYLON TEA Ceylon Tea has been prized for its unique flavour, colour & character, which cannot be readily found elsewhere. The humidity, cool temperatures, sunshine and rainfall (two monsoons) in the country's central and southern highlands are conducive to the manufacture of unique quality teas. Tea plantations are scenic and pristine. Tea is grown, hand picked and processed in an artisanal process, unchanged for over a century. The renowned Tea Research Institute strictly monitors use of pesticides [which are needed in minimal quantities due to the humid climate]. Ceylon Tea is reputed as the “cleanest tea in the world” in respect of pesticide residues due to these stringent controls. Ceylon tea is divided into three groups: High Grown, Mid Grown, and Low Grown tea based on the elevation and geography of the land on which it is grown. This is similar to the terroir concept in wine. Ceylon Tea has unique characteristics and is known for superior flavor for its high grown teas and exquisite leaf appearance for low grown teas, much favoured in the Middle East. GLOBAL POSITIONING With 8% of the global production Sri Lanka is the 4th largest manufacturer of tea in the world after China, India & Kenya. Since China is predominantly a green tea producer while India & Kenya mainly produce CTC teas, Sri Lanka is the leading manufacturer of orthodox black tea to the globe. Sri Lanka is also the second largest tea exporter to the world after Kenya since China & India constitute of a huge domestic consumption. The export share of Sri Lanka in the global tea market is registered at around 18% as against that of Kenya which is about 22%. Since Kenya exports CTC teas in entirety, Sri Lanka is acclaimed as the world’s largest exporter of orthodox black tea. Tradition is probably the most suitable word that can explain tea in the Sri Lankan context. With almost 45% of all exports in value added form, tea trade in Sri Lanka is way ahead of its competitors such as India which exports around 10% of its off-takes in packaged form and Kenya only 7%. Sri Lanka is also the first tea producing country in the world which introduced nation branding with Ceylon Tea linked to the Lion logo symbol. The industry proudly acknowledges attempts of few dynamic entrepreneurs and visionaries for building globally renowned
tea brands which no other tea producing country has achieved so far. The tea industry in Sri Lanka has created many global records in various fields and avenues. The country could boast of a highly transparent Tea Auction system in Colombo rated as the largest in the world for a single origin and always yields the fastest turn-around of tea to cash for the farmers. In respect of agro-chemical pesticide residues, Ceylon Tea has been regularly acclaimed as the cleanest by independent analysts/research labs around the world. Sri Lanka also received the accolade from Montreal Protocol in Canada as the only “Ozone Friendly Tea” in the world. Several industry players in Sri Lanka have received United Nations Global Compact Awards which other countries are yet to achieve. The contribution for Carbon Credit programs and the commitments for Corporate Social Responsibility are high. While the industry is ILO compatible it is a role model for the United Nations Environmental Program and fulfills most of the global millennium goals. UNIQUE SELLING POINTS OF CEYLON TEA Ceylon Tea undebatably is a high quality, high cost product which is known the world over for almost a century and half. Sri Lanka, the island nation of the shape of a tear drop at the southern tip of India is world famous because of Ceylon Tea and continues to look after the livelihood of almost 2 million people (10% of the population) directly and indirectly. Generating an export revenue of US $ 1.5 billion per annum, the Sri Lanka Tea industry is vital for the economic stability, social stability and political stability of the country. The competitive advantage of Ceylon Tea lies on the following key attributes. A) HAND PICKED Ceylon teas are hand picked to ensure a better selection of green leaf for the manufacture of tea - an expensive and labour intensive process, which greatly influences the final product quality. (B) ARTISANAL Sri Lanka is a bastion of the original Orthodox tea manufacturing process that results in small batch, labour intensive production of a wide variety of leaf style or grades and ensures the unique flavour and aroma. The vast majority of global production now uses the CTC [cut tear & curl] process designed for efficiency. The CTC process produces more uniform
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small leaf sizes, more convenient for packing into teabags and also to give a quicker infusion but at the expense of flavour, which is the hallmark of orthodox Ceylon Tea. (C) ETHICAL The Ceylon Tea Industry is well regulated with a unionised workforce that is governed by a collective labour agreement. Child labour is banned. Workers are provided a comprehensive selection of facilities from housing to healthcare. Estate operating companies place strong emphasis on human resource management to retain workers on estates since other opportunities are increasingly available. A significant proportion of the manufacture is through small holder sector, under a truly free market environment where the farmer receives remunerative prices. When tea is packaged in Sri Lanka, significant value addition & profits are created at origin which then directly benefits the livelihood of many thousands of people. Bulk tea exports are generally with low margins and very little value addition is generated. (D) PASSION & PROVENANCE Growing and producing Ceylon tea is a tradition and a passion for almost 150 years. Each day about 1.5 million people all over Sri Lanka, from tea pluckers to tea producers, from tea tasters to tea packers, commit themselves to produce some of the finest black teas on earth. It is a way of life. Ceylon Tea estates are in pristine environments and are of a small size of 200-400ha generally with professional managers and a dedicated workforce living on the estate. Small holders tend family plots of 1-5ha and supply fresh green leaf to nearby processing plants through a well-established network. A thorough monitoring system allows tracking of produce from estate to the auction until packaging. (E) DIVERSITY The seven agro-climatic regional teas namely Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Uda Pussellawa, Dimbula, Kandy, Ruhuna & Sabaragamuwa has given Ceylon Tea an unique advantage to produce teas of different flavour, aroma, strength and colour unmatched by any other origin in the world. (F) ECOLOGICAL: THE CLEANEST TEA IN THE WORLD Sri Lanka has implemented various measures to comply with environment related international conventions and
agreements, including the Montreal Protocol. The usage of methyl bromide as a soil fumigant in the tea sector was phased out to comply with the Montreal Protocol. By phasing out Methyl Bromide used in fumigating the soil in its tea plantations, Sri Lanka now offers the world “Ozone-Friendly” Ceylon Tea. Tea gardens now use Basamid-Granular for soil fumigation. The use of pesticides and herbicide are constantly monitored by the state Tea Research Institute (TRI) to ensure the residue levels are in compliance with the highest international standards. Due to the high humidity levels and propensity for leaf blights, limited, closely controlled pesticide application is permitted. Organic teas are in limited production in Sri Lanka. The drop in yields would require much larger areas to be planted in tea hence the focus has been on limited applications of permitted fertilisers amidst best agricultural practices. (G) FRESHNESS: SHORTEST TIME FROM CROP TO CASH Teas are packaged in Sri Lanka in 2-3 weeks from harvesting, thereby preserving the freshness and inherent aroma of the tea. This is in stark contrast to teas packed in consuming markets, which can be many months old, sometimes over a year, when packaged. The goodness and quality of the tea would be lost apart from possibility of blending with other origins. The best guarantee of freshness is to buy a product packed at source (Sri Lanka).
with international brand names that are available around the world, which contain tea of mixed,non-specific origin. These products are blended from whatever teas are available on the international markets. The skill of the blender ensures a consistent product regardless of origin, while the firm enjoys economies of scale and suffers no supply-side anxieties. However, the level of quality rarely equals that attained by single-origin teas, and such blends can never emulate the character, so prized by connoisseurs, of pure Ceylon Tea.
Tea bearing the Lion Logo must also be packed in Sri Lanka. Overseas importers and distributors cannot use the logo on their packaging, though if the contents are 100% Sri Lankan, the name ‘Ceylon Tea’ may still legally be used. These strictures are needed to help consumers distinguish real Ceylon Tea from the thousands of products, including many
As with all Ceylon Tea, Nuwara Eliya is available in several different grades. Excluding certain exotic varieties, the most sought-after is whole-leaf orange pekoe (OP); slightly less costly, though still expensive, is broken orange pekoe (BOP). Generally speaking, the smaller the leaf particle size, the stronger and less subtle the tea.
DIVERSITY IN SPECIALITY The diversity in specialty of it’s orthodox tea process has been the power and strength of the tea industry in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula, Uda Pussellawa, Kandy, Ruhuna and Sabaragamuwa are the prime tea growing regions of Sri Lanka. Over the years, Sri Lanka has earned a reputation as a producer of high quality tea and Ceylon Tea is synonymous with quality and taste. Ceylon Tea and 07 agro climate regional teas have been registered as geographical indications to prevent misuse of Sri Lankan Teas by overseas packers.
UDA PUSSELLAWA The tea of Uda Pussellawa is sometimes compared in character with that of Nuwara Eliya, though it appears somewhat darker in the cup, with a pinkish hue and a hint of greater strength. The eastern quality season from June to September produces the best teas of the year, closely followed by the western season during the first quarter. The dry, cold conditions during this latter period add a hint of rose to the bouquet of a tea known for its medium body and subtle character. Periods of heavy rainfall, on the other hand, tend to produce a tea that is darker in the cup and stronger-flavoured. Uda Pussellawa produces a variety of leaf sizes and styles, reflecting the relatively broad range of altitudes at which its estates are situated.
A SYMBOL OF CEYLON TEA QUALITY LION LOGO TRADE MARK To qualify for the special, legal distinction denoted by the words ‘Ceylon Tea’, and for the famous Lion logo that goes with it, the tea must not only be grown and manufactured entirely in Sri Lanka; it must also conform to strict quality standards laid down and administered by the Sri Lanka Tea Board. It cannot, moreover, be mixed or blended with tea from any other part of the world. Even a blend that is 95% Sri Lankan cannot be described as Ceylon Tea.
fragrant bouquet.
NUWARA ELIYA Grown at high elevation at the very centre of Sri Lanka’s hill country, Nuwara Eliya tea enjoys two ‘quality seasons’, the eastern as well as the western. The balance between the two climatic systems varies from estate to estate, and a short drive from one location to another can see a complete change of weather. The tea produced here has a rarefied and refined quality that easily sets it apart from lower-grown varieties. High altitude and year-round low temperatures produce a very slow-growing bush with unusually small leaves that take on an orange hue – just a hint against the blackness – after withering. The infused leaf acquires a greenish-yellow tone, and the infusion in the cup is the palest among all the regional varieties of Ceylon Tea, with a subtle golden hue and a delicate yet
UVA The unique character of Uva tea is recognized and acknowledged all over the world. It was with tea grown and manufactured on his Uva estates that Sir Thomas Lipton, the great Victorian magnate, first persuaded Americans
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to take up the tea-drinking habit. The mellow, smooth taste of Uva tea, once known, is easily distinguished from that of any other. The Uva region produces a leaf that is more blackened by withering than that of any other district. The range of teas produced is wide, with a full range of whole and small-leaf grades as well as CTC varieties. During the July-September eastern quality season, the dessicated monsoon wind or kacchan disrupts normal photosynthesis in the tea plant, while the hot days and cold nights bring about chemical changes that improve the ‘nose’ and flavour. The manufacturing process must be adapted to take full advantage of these changes, becoming on the whole slightly briefer. It results in tea of a pungent, slightly mentholated character, radically different from that produced at any other time of year. Estates in the Uva region also produce a substantial amount of green tea from Assamese stock. These teas are produced mainly in the region of Idalgashinna.
DIMBULA The teas of Dimbula, like all high-grown teas, are slow-growing and small-leaved. Dimbula planters, however, focus on flavour rather than leaf style in the manufacture of their products. The complex topography of the region produces a variety of beneficent microclimates, which show up as differences in flavour. All, however, share the Dimbula character: a tea that produces a fine golden-orange hue in the cup, with a distinctive freshness to the flavour that leaves a clean feeling in the mouth after the tea is drunk. The higher the elevation at which it was picked, the greater will be the brightness and freshness of the liquor in the cup. This is particularly the case with tea from the NanuOya sub-district, whose high altitude and proximity to Nuwara Eliya results in a tea that bears noticeable similarities to the products of that region. Other sub-districts, such as Dickoya, produce a darker, more strongly flavoured tea.
During the western quality season between March and May, the aromatic qualities of Dimbula tea increase, and notes of jasmine mixed with cypress can be detected.
KANDY The teas of the Kandy region are said to be particularly flavoursome, though, as with all teas, their strength is inversely proportional to the elevation at which they are grown. In fact, the region produces a broad range of strengths and styles: estates at lower elevations produce a larger leaf with gives a stronger-flavoured beverage, while those higher up grow a smaller leaf that yields a more subtle and delicate flavour. Kandy factories also produce a broad mix of different ‘grades’ or leaf-particle sizes, from whole-leaf and semi-broken grades through broken orange pekoes or ‘BOPs’ to BOP fannings. CTC-style teas are also produced. Since leaf particle size affects the strength of the brew, the general effect from Kandy teas is one of considerable local and regional variety. Kandy teas tend to produce a relatively bright infusion with a coppery tone. Though lighter in the cup, they present a good deal of strength and body, though not as much as the lower-grown products of Sabaragamuwa and Ruhuna. Most Kandy-district estates lie on the western slopes of the hills, so their taste is influenced by the ‘western quality season’, meaning that the best tea is produced during the first quarter of the year, when cool, dry weather sets in across the district.
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SABARAGAMUWA Given the slightly wider range of growing altitude and more varied climatic conditions, it is not surprising that the teas of Sabaragamuwa show a little more variation in character than those of the other predominantly low-grown district, Ruhuna. As with the latter, Sabaragamuwa produces a fast-growing bush with a long leaf, very black when withered and well suited for ‘rolling’ (see manufacture). The liquor, too, is similar to that of Ruhuna teas, dark yellow-brown with a reddish tint in the dry season, though lightening somewhat with altitude. The ‘nose’ or aroma, however, is noticeably different from the Ruhuna product, with a hint of sweet caramel, and not quite as strong as the latter. This is ascribed to the reduced monsoon exposure of Sabaragamuwa tea as opposed to that of Ruhuna. The flavour, too, is strongly marked, especially with respect to low-grown examples. These are general comments, however, and need not apply to all teas produced in Sabaragamuwa.
RUHUNA Ruhuna teas are defined as ‘low-grown’. The tea-estates of the region all lie at altitudes between sea level and 600m (2,000ft). Although the main tea-growing areas are relatively near the coast, the predominant weather patterns prevent them from receiving the full force of the southwest monsoon winds and the rain they bring. Before the coming of tea, this zone of moderate climate, watered by several small rivers, was devoted to the cultivation of spices. The soil of Ruhuna, combined with the low elevation of the estates, causes the tea-bush to grow rapidly, producing a long, beautiful leaf that turns intensely black on withering and is particularly suited to ‘rolling’. Ruhuna factories produce a wide variety of leaf styles and sizes, from prized ‘tips’ through wholeand semi-whole-leaf teas to ‘fannings’ and CTC.
AN INDUSTRY WITH SUSTAINABILITY & CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Sustainability is not just a fashionable catch-phrase among members of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. In recent years, the drive towards sustainable practice in all aspects of the cultivation, manufacture, storage, transportation and distribution of Ceylon Tea has gathered momentum, with new legislation and industry rules being put in place. Alliances have been forged with international conservation bodies and hundreds of individual initiatives are being practised on estates and smallholder farms throughout Sri Lanka’s tea-growing districts. Concern for sustainability is not new to the Ceylon tea industry. An early industry initiative was to prohibit the use of DDT, while the use of wooden tea-chests was abandoned over twenty years ago. Sri Lanka now produces the world’s only ozone-friendly tea, certified under the Montreal Protocol on greenhouse gases. This was achieved through an industry-wide effort backed by the Tea Board. Read more about this important advance. Alarmed by warnings from the scientists, the world’s nations met in Montreal, Canada in 1987 to decide upon action to protect the ozone layer. Out of this meeting came the Montreal Protocol, signed by 191 countries including Sri Lanka. Under the protocol, methyl bromide use by the Sri Lankan tea industry was progressively reduced, then done away with altogether. As a result of such prompt and effective action by the tea industry and others, Sri Lanka was acclaimed a ‘leader in ozone-layer protection’, receiving the Montreal Protocol Implementers Award in 2007.
All tea grown in Sri Lanka is now one hundred percent ozone-friendly. This is a distinction of which no other tea-producing nation can boast. Plans are now being drawn up to impose a total ban on methyl bromide use in applications like export packaging and shipping. As of May 2011, all Ceylon Tea is entitled to bear the new ‘Ozone Friendly Pure Ceylon Tea’ logo, certifying that it has been produced without the use of any ozone-depleting substances. The Tea Board has commenced the registration of the logo in twenty tea-importing countries from 2012. When you reach for a cup of Ceylon Tea, you’re not just refreshing yourself; you’re also helping refresh and renew an environmental resource critically important to all life on Earth. (The story is by courtesy of SRI LANKA TEA BOARD, Tea Promotion Division, 574, Galle Road,Colombo 03, SRI LANKA). Contacts; Tel: 0094 2587814, 0094 2583343/ Fax: 0094 2587341, 0094 258212
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FLAVOURS
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THE
UNIQUE ARTOF TEA
TASTING
By Inoka Palliyaguru Pix Irushan Withanawasaam ri Lanka has been profoundly blessed with an array of diverse climates. Thus a diverse combination of tea production has been discovered from latter part of 19th century. Sri Lankan tea popularly known as ‘Ceylon Tea’ is the world’s largest tea exported and is been developed to cater the tastes of tea drinkers all around the world. Every year 4 billion kilos of tea is manufactured and exported around the globe.
S
Ceylon tea is mainly from seven regions of the country; Kandy, NuwaraEliya, UdaPussellawa, Uva, Dimbula, Sambaragamuwa and Ruhuna. Each of these areas produces different kinds of tea as per the demographic area’s climate, soil and weather conditions. The variance of taste might extend in to sub districts or even single gardens.
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Testing the quality of these different kinds of tea is paramount in order to standardise Ceylon Tea and to ensure the quality is intact all the time. Sri Lanka Tea Board is the regulatory body that governs the tea exports in Sri Lanka as well as the consumer tea market. The board has stringent quality checks as well as a decade of unique practice of an art called ‘Tea Tasting’. Tea tasting has been done as a practice from the time of British regimes when the first tea plantations were introduced in early 1880s. The practice continues the same after so many years and preserved as a significant part of the tea culture. Even though any planter can grow tea in any part of the country, all tea must be produced for auction under a tea brokering company. There are only eight tea brokering companies in Sri Lanka, namely, Asia Siyaka Commodities (Pvt) Ltd; Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers (Pvt) Ltd; Eastern Brokers Ltd; Mercantile Produce Brokers (Pvt) Ltd; Lanka Commodity Brokers Ltd; John Keells PLC; Bartleet Produce Marketing (Pvt) Ltd. and Ceylon Tea Brokers PLC. Prior to presenting their tea for the auction, all brokering companies have to present the samples of their tea to the department of Tea Tasting Technical Unit in Sri Lanka Tea Board. The tea has to meet the International Parameter ISO 3720 before the auction. The Lion of Ceylon logo is only given once the stringent quality checks are performed and the International Parameters are conformed by a sample.
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The tea is tasted once again when it is packed for exports and the labels, packing and quality of the materials are also been checked. The Tea Tasting Technical unit in Sri Lanka Tea Board checks imported tea from other countries such as China, India,and Kenya as well. These are imported mainly to be re- exported along with the Ceylon Tea for different customer requirements. Some are blended with the Ceylon tea to make up with many variations. Tea Grades Preparation for Tea Tasting •
Measure 2.5g of tea from a scale and place it in a cup
•
Pour hot water in to the cup and close the lid and leave for exactly 5 minutes (use an electric timer)
•
Stir once after 2 minutes and close the lid
•
After 5 minutes pour to another cup and set aside the infusion
•
Stir once and slowly pour to another cup
•
Close with a heat resisting cloth and leave for 5 minutes before the tasting
The tea tasting is done by a highly experienced tea taster who is qualified and skilled enough to determine the origin of the tea without sighting the catalogue. The tea taster will check the dried tea leaves first for its appearance (whether the leaf is twisted, rolled, free of stalks and fibres), colour and the style of the leaf. Secondly he will check the infusion for its colour, particle size and whether the particles are neat or tiny (bright, mix, coppery, dull). Finally he will check the liquor for its colour, taste, and aroma. (The interview with Ashoka Gonathilake Deputy Director – Tea Tasting Technical Unit of Sri Lanka Tea Board and has over 30 years of experience in the area of tea tasting and has a vast knowledge about Ceylon tea).
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UPHILLS
OODOOWERA TEA ESTATE AND FACTORY
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE VIEW
T
Text and pics. by Indaka Karunadasa
he Oodoowera Tea Estate lies in the Badulla District of the Uva Province. It belongs to Finlay Tea Estates which were formed by Hapugastenna Plantations Plc and Udupussellawa Plantaions Plc.
ACCESS: The Oodoowera Tea Estate can be easily reached along the A-16 Beragala-Haliella road (ColomboBadulla road). The Tea Estate lies at 769-1,219 metres above sea level. The Oodoowera tea factory lies 1,219 metres above mean sea level and offers a spectacular 360 view. The tea factory, which was erected in 1928, is accredited with the ISO 9001-2005, ISO 22000-2005 and CQC 2 Star certifications by the Sri Lanka Tea Board. It has also been accredited by the Rainforest Alliance. EARLY DAYS: In the beginning there were no roads to the tea estate or the tea factory and it was very difficult to transport plucked tea leaves to the factory during the harvesting periods. Sometimes people had to carry the plucked leaves to the factory by bullock carts. So the British planters built aerial cableway lines from one mountain top to another and to the tea factory as well. This worked on gravity and by turning the cables by hand. The remnants of the aerial cableway line can still be found in the factory premises. The cableway had been built on four metal poles on a concrete base. Four metal cycles were fixed to it and two metal cycles were connected to the cables. When the bags of tea are fixed to the cable on a higher elevation point, due to gravity and a little push, the bags are transported to the lower elevation as well as between two mountains very easily. NATING VIEWS & CONTACTS: One can also get a spectacular view of the Demodara railway loop from the tea factory. A permission to visit could be arranged via +9455 4922941 at Oodoowera Tea Factory . Do not forget to buzz at the main gate of the tea factory, for the guard to open the gate. Remnants of the aerial cableway
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Spectacular view of the Demodara railway loop
ARTS
G N I R E E T KID
E K C P A B P PU COME W E N E TH
42 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • JUNE - JULY 2014
uwita a Kur
B
indr y Rath
is quite famous, among Sri Lankans, for its puppeteers. Ambalangoda The puppets are usually cut from kaduru trees and then they are
carved into intricate characters that come from Sri Lankan folklore and everyday life. Although the shows are becoming increasingly rare, due to the expenses associated with puppetry, puppet master Gambari Premin has been working overtime to help keep the ancient folk art alive with a bit of help from Sri Lanka Tourism.
Premin states that his family has been engaged in puppetry since the time of the Kandyan kings and now carries on his work with help from his sons. “In 1922 when the Prince of Wales visited Ceylon, my grandfather, Gamabari Podi Sirina performed before the Prince and was awarded a gold sovereign and Rs 500,” he said. Those, of course were the good old days, a time when TV, radio, movies and the internet didn’t exist and puppetry was one of the main forms of mass entertainment which drew large crowds. However with the advent of new forms of entertainment and the increasing high costs of puppetry productions, puppet shows have been few and far between. “For a while puppetry hasn’t been a very profitable business. However in recent times I have received invitations from many schools to conduct shows with an educational theme” he said. Along with the diminishing popularity of puppeteering came changes in how puppets are made, how shows are performed and the number of people willing to carry on the family trade. These reasons in turn affected the quality of the performances. “Earlier, puppets were made of animal skins and stuffed; the skins usually used being deer and buffalo skins. They are now made of kaduru trunks, painted over and dressed. Each puppet has one person who holds the frame to which are attached the strings that make the puppet - its hands, legs, head, even fingers move” he said. However assistance to the ailing art has come in the form of Sri Lanka Tourism which has in recent times attempted to promote puppeteering as a tourism promotion tool. Following the footsteps of Thailand where shadow puppeteering is a main tourist attraction, Sri Lankan Tourism authorities have joined hands with Premin to popularise Sri Lankan puppeteering as a niche tourist attraction. “With the help of Sri Lanka Tourism I held one of the largest puppet shows in recent times. The response was encouraging and I believe that this is an art that can attract a large number of tourists because our style is unique” he said. BOX – PUPPETEERING THEN AND NOW In ancient Sri Lanka puppets were used to convey royal dictates/messages to the people. Artisans would create a replica of the king that was transported from one village to another. After entering a village and summoning its residents, the royal messengers would manipulate the king’s hands and body with string, voicing the message so it sounded as if it were coming from the king himself. This is the beginning of Sri Lankan puppetry as we know it and the world history of puppeteering dates back at least 3000 years. Thus this art form has been one of human civilszation’s earliest means of entertainment. JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 43
The Sri Lankan art of puppeteering is colourful as well as immensely entertaining, largely due to the inherent folklore and tales of myth and legend the country is known for. Characters like Jasaya, Lenchina and Nonchi akka are famously and most frequently reinvented on the puppet stage, as are the stories of Kalagola and Dikthala and even Sirisangabo. This shows the impact of Buddhist tales (Jathaka katha) on the creations of puppeteers. In recent decades the popularity of puppeteering has lessened and the number of practitioners has dwindled. That is why the intervention of Sri Lanka Tourism to rejuvenate this dying art is timely and essential.
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DEVELOPMENTS
SANCHARAKA UDAWA 2014 AN ELEVATION TO THE SRI LANKAN TOURISM INDUSTRY By Inoka Palliyaguru
T
Mahen Kariyawasam, President of SLAITO
he Sri Lanka tourism industry has shown a remarkable success over the past few years and the goal of attracting 2.5 million tourist arrivals in year 2016 seems to be a reachable challenge so far. This year ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ has been organised for the fourth consecutive year, which will be held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition Convention Centre (SLECC)on June 27th and 28th with the intention of advancing the Sri Lankan tourism industry. The ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ tourism exhibition is a result of the collaboration between Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) which joined hands together in order to uplift the private sector tourism. The SLAITO is a 160 member JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 45
"
THE ‘SANCHARAKA UDAWA’ TOURISM EXHIBITION IS A RESULT OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SRI LANKA ASSOCIATION OF INBOUND TOUR OPERATORS (SLAITO) AND THE SRI LANKA TOURISM PROMOTION BUREAU (SLTPB) WHICH JOINED HANDS TOGETHER IN ORDER TO UPLIFT THE PRIVATE SECTOR TOURISM.
Organization which operates under Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The main sponsor of the event is SLTPB and the other sponsors are Srilankan Airlines, Laksala and Western Province Tourist Board.
This year the exhibition is organised in a much larger scale and is accommodating about 200 stalls. These consist of wide range of industry related areas such as accommodation, inbound and outbound touring, adventure tourism, sports tourism, and other services. There are designated areas for all the service providers to exhibit their services. The organisers have invited outbound destinations and air travel service providers as well. And also car manufacturers such as AMW and Toyota will also showcase their products which are value adding to tourism industry. The travel enthusiasts can explore the new products and services available in the industry.
"
Mahen Kariyawasam, President of SLAITO expressed his view on the exhibition;’ we provide opportunities for all stakeholders in the tourism industry to meet and interact, where they can exchange ideas and showcase their products. There are many new entrants to the industry including boutique hotels and tour operators and they need to be exposed to a wider market scope. That is the reason for organising this exhibition. It is an opportunity for even the small and medium enterprises of the industry to interact. In a simpler sense, if there are service providers who are organising safaris, water sports activities or offering any other service related to tourism, they could participate in Sancharaka Udawa and display their services. They can also form contacts with relevant people to promote their products.’ Parallel with the Sancharak Udawa, SLAITO will hold a special General Meeting in order to educate their membership of the progress that they have made in promoting Sri Lanka tourism in international markets. ‘We have launched major promotional campaigns targeting Europe and new potential markets such as Russia, China and Korea’ added Mr. Kariyawasam. He also explained about the advertising campaign through branded taxis and buses which have been launched in these countries promoting Sri Lanka as a vibrant holiday destination. SLAITO and SLTPB will also have a promotional campaign at the Korean World Travel Fair. In addition a series of road shows has been scheduled to cover 10 cities in Russia promoting rich Sri Lankan Culture.
NATURE
the
vivid
world of
BUTTERFLIES Text and Pics by Indaka Karunadasa
I
n the animal kingdom, the animals that have no backbones are called invertebrates. Invertebrates are further divided into a number of smaller groups called phylum such as protozoa, echinoderms, annelids, mollusks, arthropods, crustaceans, arachnids, insects, etc. The largest subgroup of invertebrates is the phylum arthropods.
The phylum arthropod has common differentiates. They have an external skeleton composed of a substance called chitin, jointed appendages and a body composed of segments. Butterflies belong to the sub group (class) insect which is further divided into orders. Butterflies and moths belong to the Lepidoptera order. Butterflies have two pairs of membranous wings with a large number of scales. (The wings are most useful for identification 48 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • JUNE - JULY 2014
Joker
Common Jay
Baronnet (Symphaedra nais)
The Tawny Coster (Telchinia violae) of a butterfly species.) The legs and body are also covered with a large number of scales. They also have a hollow proboscis for sucking food, antennae and two compound eyes.
The Common Mormon (Papillio polytes)
The female butterfly lays eggs on the host plant, each on a different location or in a cluster. Three to four days later a young caterpillar emerges from the egg and begins to feed on the leaves, flowers and pods of the host plant. Each butterfly species has its own species of host plant. The caterpillar molts several times as it grows, to accommodate its rapidly increasing larger body size. When the caterpillar reaches maturity it attaches itself to a branch, leaf or other point of strength. It then wraps its body in a strong plastic-like material called a
Crimson Tip
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Grass Yellow
Peacock Royal
Three Spot Grass Yellow
Five Bar Swardtail
The Red Pierrot (Talicada nyseus)
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The Common Sailor (Neptis hylas)
Butterflies are very active in the morning hours.
Plain Tiger
Sri Lankan Tree Nymph
In Sri Lanka there are 245 different species of butterflies. They are found both in the hill country and the lowlands. According to researchers, the distribution of butterflies is related to the distribution of hosting plants. One butterfly researcher said that in Sri Lanka about 60 butterfly species have a single species of hosting plant which happens to be an indigenous herbal plant. Other species have select one or two species of hosting plant. So the conservation of ecosystems is required as their essential larval food plants only grow in limited habitats. So the protection of floral species is important in butterfly conservation.
The White Four-Ring (Ypthima ceylonica)
Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis)
Among the aforesaid 245 species of butterflies, 26 are recognised as endemic while 66 have been named as threatened.
Chocolate Albatross
chrysalis. It remains thus for a few days to weeks until it changes into an adult (butterfly). In this pupa stage, it does not eat. Once the butterfly emerges from the pupa, and as soon as its wings harden, it will fly away. As butterflies have no mouth to use to chew they have to suck fluid using their proboscis. They suck on nectar of flowers, rotten fruit, tree sap, nectar of soil and decaying matter. The lifecycle of a butterfly: Egg stage 2 to 5 days Larvae stage (caterpillar) 10 to 30 days Pupa stage (chrysalis) 1 to 3 weeks Imago (butterfly) 3 to 3 months (specific time duration depends on species)
In the recent past Sri Lanka named the Sri Lankan Birdwing (Troides darsius) as the national butterfly. This is a black and yellow butterfly found only in Sri Lanka. When it spreads its wings it spans 165-180 mm. It was named the national butterfly on February 5, 2010 by the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry further named a specific butterfly for each of the nine provinces. Province
Name
Zoological Name
Northcentral
Banded Peacock
Papillio crino
Northwestern
Sri Lankan Lesser Albatross
Appaias galena
Northern
Large Auara Blue
Virachola perse
Western
Blue Glassy Tiger
Ldeopsis simillis
Central
Sri Lanka Morach
Parantica taprobana
Uva
Baronet
Symphaedia nais
Southern
Sri Lanka Tree Nymph
Idea iasonia
Sabaragamuwa
Sri Lanka Rose
Pachliopta jophon
Wayamba
Spot Sword Tail
Graphium nomius
Due to deforestation with butterfly hosting plants being cut down and the use of agrochemicals (pesticides and weedicides), butterflies are endangered in Sri Lanka. Thus laws regarding butterflies have been changed so that protection of butterflies is more of a concern today. Stamps of butterflies are printed by the Postal Department, and young persons interested in butterflies have written books. JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 51
Egg
Chrysalis (pupa stage)
Emerging from pupa
Caterpillar (larvae) Antennae, complex eye, Proboscis, legs
After emerging from pupa For more information about Sri Lankan butterflies please visit http:// slbutterflies.com/ (Special thanks to Dr. Piyal Marasinghe, Ph.D, Himesh Jayasinghe, Sarath S. Rajapakshe and Chamitha de Alwis.) For any questions about Sri Lankan butterflies please contact Himesh Jayasinghe 071 8181225 Sarath Rajapakshe 071 3380807 52 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • JUNE - JULY 2014
ECO
Madulkelle TEA & ECO LODGE
A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE
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An interview by Harsha Udayakantha Peiris Pix by Sanju Samarasinghe
adulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge, the 4 Star international eco facility is first of its kind in Sri Lanka that offers a revolutionary and contemporary concept to the traditional warmth and hospitality that Sri Lanka is famous for. It is built on a picturesque 25 acre tea plantation, just 30 km away from the Sri Lanka’s hill capital of Kandy and approximately 150 km away from Colombo. The hotel commands a majestic view of the UNESCO World Heritage Knuckles Mountain Range – so called due to its shape similar to the knuckles of a clenched fist situated 1000 meters above sea level and treats travelers to magnificent views, top class facilities, friendly and courteous service and plenty of things to see and do.
“In the year 1983, I first visited this beautiful island and spent about 15 days in a tea plantation with its beautiful people. My ambition was to come again and start an eco hotel facility amidst the greenery of a
Philippe Gomez
The proprietor and the chief investor of Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge
beautiful tea plantation in the island of Sri Lanka. So, here we have built this beautiful and serene Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge, a totally environment friendly tea and eco facility. Instead of
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high walls at many a star class hotel that imprisons the guest, here we offer the gist of nature, fresh air and all its serenity, ” says Philippe Gomez the proprietor and the chief investor of Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge.. Imagine waking up to the sounds of birds chirping outside your room, you then open your front door to one of the most spectacular views imaginable – majestic mountains, lush green valleys and tea plantations, crystal clear streams and even the occasional deer or giant squirrel. Take a deep breath of the fresh air and pinch yourself – no, you’re not dreaming.. “The quality of the people in Sri Lanka is extremely high. I have travelled in many nooks and corners of the world but this is where I have stopped now for that quality of hospitality, beauty and
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the friendship of the community. After many years of conflict, now Sri Lanka has an investor friendly environment. We see that the Government is doing much more to boost a sustainable environment conducive for investment and of course it can do more,” Philippe says. The Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge offers 18 secluded lodges with comfortable amenities, specially designed to make your next holiday in Sri Lanka a truly unforgettable one. All lodges are made of high quality tarpaulin canvas specially imported from South Africa. This is the very same material used by many world renowned safari camps especially in campsites all over Africa. Each lodge at the Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge can hold a maximum of 3 people and features a front porch with ‘out-of-this-world’ views, comfortable beds, a full bathroom with walk-in shower and a separate private WC. The hotel also has a library with internet access and business centre, a grand dining room and restaurant with a cozy fireplace, seating areas placed with the tea estate as well as drivers’ and guides’ live-in-quarters with onsite parking. “All our lodges are named after birds’ names. And we are improving. We are also in the process of building a traditional ‘Ayurvedic’ Spa just below and by the swimming pool. We are also organizing ‘Yoga’ sessions for the guests and will start by the end this year. At present, we also have two kinds of trekking programmes that extend from 2 to 4 hours in the nearby Knuckles mountain range and the tea plantation around. In the morning the guests can see tea pluckers engaged in their work. Visits are also arranged to the traditional tea factory to explain how tea is made. Guests can also engage in bird watching. I have seen the Black Eagle and there are two endemic varieties of parrots in the vicinity. We are also in the process of organizing sport camping programmes
with Para Gliding,” he says. The hotel has an Organic Vegetable and Herb Garden that yields fresh vegetables and herbs all year round that helps its Chef to prepare fresh and delicious authentic Sri Lankan as well as up country meals every day. “We have a very good and friendly Chef who is well experienced in authentic dishes. Food for anyone is very important. And here we treat it at the highest level. We do not serve any industrial food in the hotel. We grow hundred percent organic vegetable in the hotel farm yard for the guest. Even the chicken and eggs we get are from the community yards and not from the farm,” says Philippe.
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At Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge the Management strongly believes in giving back to the society and the communities. “Always what is important is not only the money that you earn. Why not we look into the happiness of the people around us. Here, we donate to the community. We have people from the community employed in our venture. We do have a number of community workshops and projects to upgrade the living standards and quality of life of the people living in this community. We have a children’s club that meets once a week on every Saturday. There, Children have their workshops and also learn painting. Our resource panel helps them a lot. Our
Colourful paintings of tea pluckers by Philippe Gomez JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 57
guests can also engage in these activities to help this community service. At the same time, with our arrival, we are extremely happy to see that the infrastructure in the area is developing fast,” Philippe explains. The hotel also has an exclusive programme to improve its tea estate. In its nursery 15,000 new tea plants are being grown and sooner this year the hotel expects to produce its own green tea for export overseas. Philippe Gomez the proprietor and the chief investor of Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge, today, is a confident personality dedicated to run a venture and also work together in it that helps him to keep people happy and smiling. “ The country’s target is 2.5 million international tourists and travelers by 2020. My view is that Sri Lanka can set a bigger target than that. As investors, we should not categorically stabilize on financial aspects. We have to actively look and work towards the quality of life of the people who come to us. They may be our guests at the hotel or people from the community who are employed at us. As long as we do not respect the quality of their lives we are destroying these precious investor friendly environments. So, we have to break the walls that frighten our guests. We should actively engage to develop the communities around us. Such a dedicated frame-work will always contribute towards a sustainable industry of travel and tourism that simultaneously protect, develop and safeguard our guests, their aspirations and the environment around them,” he says.
O
“ ur product is basically developed under a unique eco concept. It goes with conservation and wellbeing of the community. Long before we started this venture, we worked together with the community around here. We did a lot of community work and especially with the children’s club that we formed. Even today, this is what we highlight; our work with the community to develop both the eco concept and the people. For our dedicated contributions we have been given ample recognition both locally and internationally via a number of television programmes including one in the Dutch TV, France TV and here, in Rupavahini. What we do here is therefore, ‘Responsible Tourism.’ The eco concept is our main objective. We have built the first ever tented lodges in Sri Lanka that call for high end luxury tourism. Madulkelle is an out of the world location unique for its eco system in the central hills. Before we started, it was known to very few and now with Madulkelle Tea & Eco lodge it is being systematically and accurately exposed to the international arena.” - Bhathiya Gunasekara (Managing Director) – Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge
S
“ ince decades, Sri Lanka is one of the most popular tourist destinations for the golden beaches, archeological sites, wild life and tea plantations. However, there are some new concepts that have come into Sri Lanka and in the trade of tourism, as Eco Tourism, Adventure Tourism and Agro Tourism. As a diversified concept, Tea and Eco concepts raised up with highlighting the history of Sri Lanka’s rich tea industry together with its unique eco concepts. This product provides an authentic tea experience in a beautiful serenity for the tourists and it becomes very attractive and luring. As Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge we are the market leader and pioneer in the Central Province for providing superior accommodation, tea experiences and adventure activities as a compact product. At present, we are exclusively providing our service for the high-end tourist segments and locals who are expecting a different experience in their travel and tour lives.” - Susantha Ranaweera (Sales and Marketing Manager) Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge
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AROMA
HDDES Success with elements By Inoka palliyaguru
JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 59
T
he tourism industry is booming in Sri Lanka and many in house companies opt for a greener and organic manufacturing process for their products in order to attract many of the environment savvy consumers. HDDES Group has been on business for almost 35 years using the best green concepts to infuse their products.
become an immense success story from a short period of time due to its high quality. ‘The demands for the incense sticks are so high, it is quite difficult to supply at times’; says the Chairman. Their main incense stick brand is Aura however they supply to House of Fashions and Laksala where the companies re-pack and re-brand it as their own.
Their main line of business is exporting raw materials for organic essential oils and oleoresins which are used in
These products are made 100 percent from the natural ingredients which are grown in the 1500 hectare plantation using 4000 farmers who are working full-time as well as on contract basis. The main ingredients used are cinnamon, citronella, and other various kinds of herbs and spices. There are no animal produces used in any of their products at any manufacturing process.
Mr.Mevan de silva Director
exclusive fragrances, tea flavours and beverages throughout the globe. These are exported mainly to Europe, USA, Japan, Middle-East and Maldives. The other products are perfumes, aromatic soaps, aromatic shampoos, body lotions, conditioners, shower gels, aromatic oils, aromatic diffusers and incense sticks. The toiletries are supplied to the leading tourist hotel chains in Sri Lanka and Maldives. 60 percent of spa products and hotel supplies in Maldives are the products from HDDES.
The factory is located in the Horana BOI Zone and is using conventional methods of steam distillation, solvent extraction for their manufacturing process. The factory is maintaining the ISO 22000/2500 Standards with their quality of production, store maintenance and high tech laboratories. It also has Organic and courtier Certification from the Control Union of Netherlands. The company has won over many Awards of excellence for their long years of involvement in the agriculture business from National Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka as well as from other prestigious institutions in the country. The uniqueness of HDDES Group is their willingness to cater with any fragrance that a particular shopper has in mind. The high technology that they have invested throughout the years and the expertise in the industry makes them undoubtingly the exceptional entrepreneurs and exporters in Sri Lanka.
Mr.shiraz Samsudeen Business Development Manager Their own exclusive perfume brand ‘D’las’ launched 4 very attractive new fragrances recently. The D’las range also present shampoos, hand-made soaps, shower gels, moisturizers and after shaves as part of their growing cosmetic outlines. The hand-made incense sticks, which were a by-product of the essential oils, began recently for the welfare of the factory workers and their families as a CSR project of HDDES Group. However it has 60 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • JUNE - JULY 2014
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INDUSTRIAL
MACKWOODS
LABOOKELLIE TEA ESTATE AND TEA CENTRE
A HEAVENLY LEAF'S HAVEN By Rathindra Kuriwita
62 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • JUNE - JULY 2014
N
estled amidst the picturesque hills along the Kandy-Nuwara Eliya road is the charming Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Centre, located on the Labookellie Estate – a part of the Mackwoods Group. Founded by Captain William Mackwood in 1841, Mackwoods has the distinction of being the second oldest mercantile establishment in Sri Lanka and is synonymous with the finest Ceylon Tea as Mackwoods has been associated with tea almost since its inception. Visitors can enjoy a cup of garden fresh single estate tea at the Tea Centre as well as an instructive tour
around the tea factory which gives one an insight into the finer points of tea manufacturing and tea culture. VISIT TO THE MACKWOODS LABOOKELLIE TEA FACTORY En route to Colombo following an exhilarating weekend in Nuwara Eliya during the peak of the season, we visited the Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Factory and Tea Centre. We indulged in a refreshing cup of unblended single estate tea perfectly paired with delicious chocolate cake! Ah this is the life I thought as I was surrounded by the cool fresh mountain air …taking in panoramic views of the tea bushes set amidst bright blue skies! We also had to opportunity of visiting JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 63
the Mackwoods Museum and Art Gallery. It was an unique educational experience to be enlightened about the history of tea from its origin in China, its tremendous significance in Sri Lanka and its importance in various other parts of the world too. I found the guided tour of the tea factory to be most insightful as we learnt about the tea manufacturing process, from plucking the correct tea leaves to rolling, drying and sifting them. I was instantly captivated by that wonderful aroma of tea which permeated throughout the tea factory. Our guide explained that the manufacturing process of tea consists of several stages. TEA MANUFACTURING PROCESS... PLUCKING: The green leaf is harvested at intervals ranging from 5 to 8 days from each field. The plucking of the soft two leaves and the bud is generally undertaken by well trained women, because of the agility of feminine hands. To retain its freshness, the leaf is sent to the factory
the next stage of manufacture. ROLLING: During the process of “rolling” the leaf is twisted and the leaf cell walls ruptured to bring the juices to the surface of the leaf. This process takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The rolling process involves the use of "Rollers", "Roll-Breakers", and “Rotorvane” machines and the process is repeated as required. FERMENTATION: It is the oxidization of the enzymes in the juices, which bring out the flavour, strength and the colour of the liquors and infusions. Fermentations are generally carried out on glass or tiled tables. As fermentation progresses there is a colour change of the leaf from greenish to coppery brown. The degree of fermentation is judged by the colour and aroma. DRYING: The primary objective of drying is the extraction of moisture and the arresting of fermentation. The fermented leaf
nomenclature. On completion of the grading, teas are stored in airtight bins of boxes. The sifting is carried out on a series of grading machines, which have several trays of different mesh sizes, to separate the tea particles to the various grades of tea and to remove the stalk and fibre. Mackwoods Labookellie is locally and internationally renowned for its single estate unblended teas - Orange Pekoe (OP), Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP), and Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings (BOPF) and its wide range of specialty and connoisseurs teas including the "Mackwoods 160th Anniversary Blend" and "Queen's Golden Jubilee Blend". We were happy to discover that the full and diverse range of Mackwoods Fine Teas are available at the Bandaranaike International Airport as well as at “Tea Breeze” Cafes located at the Colombo Race Course Mall and adjacent to the Beira Lake. Mackwoods Fine Teas offer a wide variety of teas to a discerning clientele and include flavoured teas, infusions and connoisseurs teas which come in a variety of elegant handcrafted silver cannisters, ceramic containers and wooden boxes. TEA TASTING: Tea tasting is an art, which is derived from using the 3 main Human senses. Sight - to analyse the appearance of tea; Smell - to analyse the aroma of tea by inhaling the scent; and Taste - to analyse the flavour using the palate. PACKING / DESPATCHING: Teas are very hygroscopic and rapidly absorb moisture. When sufficient quantities of teas are collected, they are either packed in multi-walled aluminum craft paper lined pager sacks and despatched to the auctions or packed into value added tea packs of various forms for direct export/distribution. AN UNMISSABLE LANDMARK
from the fields three to four times a day. WITHERING: The leaf is weighed and spread on troughs. Withering, is a process where conditioned air is circulated between the leaves initially to remove any surface moisture and thereafter to concentrate and chemically breakdown the tea juices. It takes 10 to 14 hours for the physical and chemical changes to take place, and bring the leaf to a soft and rubbery condition suitable for
contains from 45% to 50% moisture. The drying process takes about 20 to 25 minutes. The moisture content of the teas when drying is completed is approximately 2% to 3% and the coppery brown fermented tea particles are now back. GRADING (SIFTING): The fired teas after cooling are graded / sifted according to size and shape, as the trade demands. The different grades of tea are identified
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The Mackwoods-Labookellie Tea Estate and Tea Centre are unmissable landmarks on your way to or from Kandy from Nuwara Eliya and in fact are very much a part of the country’s heritage – frequented by thousands of local and international visitors – almost a ritual for many! A visit to the tea centre and taking the tour is highly recommended as it gives one an in-depth view of how our favourite beverage is made.
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NEWS
CENTARA OPENS NEW RESORT AT SRI LANKA'S BENTOTA PENINSULA Deluxe Ocean view
Pool
H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa (4th right), President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka presided over the grand opening of Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa Sri Lanka with Nopporn Adchariyavanich (4th left), ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka, Thirayuth Chirathivat (3rd left), chief executive officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts, Ashok Pathirage (3rd right), chairman of Soft Logic Holdings Public Company Limited, and Stephan Anthonisz (2nd right), chief executive officer of Soft Logic Leisure Sector, owning company of Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa Sri Lanka, as guests of honour. Also seen in the photo are Michel Horn (far right), vice president for operations of Centara Hotels & Resorts, Alexandre Glauser (2nd left), area general manager of Centara Hotels & Resorts Sri Lanka and Ben Montgomery (far left), director of business relations management of Centara Hotels & Resorts.
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entara Hotels & Resorts of Thailand staged the grand opening of Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa Sri Lanka on 29 May 2014, with the ceremony presided over by His Excellency Mr Mahinda Rajapksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The resort is located on the Bentota Peninsula, at the southwest of the island, with the Bentota River on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. The resort’s arrival lounge is situated at Aluthgama, on the inland side of the river, with guests travelling across the water by barge, a journey that takes two minutes. “The opening of this beautiful new resort, set in one of Sri Lanka’s most outstanding tourism destinations, is a proud moment for us,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, chief executive officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts. “We view Sri Lanka as being of great potential for us, and the island is part of our strategy for developing our market in the Indian Ocean region.” Alexandre Glauser, area general manager of Centara Hotels & Resorts Sri Lanka, said that the hotel is ready with a full complement of staff to welcome its first guests. “Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa is an outstanding property that will have both a romantic appeal for couples and lots of
leisure attractions for families,” he said. “For guests, the scene is set with the charming ride across the river on board our ferry, and no matter which room or suite they are staying, the view for guests will be stunning.” The resort has 165 rooms and suites, including family residences, with all the accommodations featuring views across the river, or across the beach and the ocean. Restaurant facilities include Café Bem, serving Sri Lankan and international cuisines along with buffets; 360 Seafood, which specialises in locally sourced seafood; and Ceylon Club, which serves refreshments and light meals throughout the day and evening. Spa Cenvaree offers traditional Sri Lankan and Indian treatments along with its range of signature Thai therapies, there is a fitness centre, an oceanfront swimming pool with Jacuzzi and a children’s pool, a water sports centre, and a Kids’ Club with separate zones for the youngsters and the teens. The resort’s versatile events space can accommodate a wide-ranging number of functions including meetings, incentives groups, weddings and outdoor receptions, all supported by state of the art audiovisual equipment and the facilities available at the business centre. The resort is just a few minutes from Aluthgama railway station. Colombo is
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reached in less than two hours by road and Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport is 100 kilometres away from the resort. Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading operator of hotels, with 46 deluxe and first-class properties covering all the major tourist destinations in the Kingdom. A further 21 resorts in Maldives, Vietnam, Shanghai, Bali, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Qatar, Laos and Oman brings the present total to 67 properties. Brands and properties within Centara ensure that specific categories such as couples, families, individuals, and meetings and incentives groups will all find a hotel or resort that is appropriate to their needs. Centara operates 29 branches of Spa Cenvaree, one of Thailand’s most luxurious and innovative spa brands, together with 7 branches of the value brand Cense by Spa Cenvaree, which provides core spa services for busy travellers. The company’s Kids’ Club is available at all the family-friendly resorts to ensure that the youngsters and teens have their own leisure zone. Centara also operates three state-of-theart convention centres in Bangkok, and two in northeastern Thailand, one being located in Udon Thani and the other in Khon Kaen. The latest Centara brand is named COSI Hotels, an affordable lifestyle brand designed for travellers who predominantly make their bookings via the internet and who want comfort and convenience at affordable prices; the brand is under development with the first property due to open in 2016.
PEGASUS REEF HOTEL - THE SOLUTION FOR ALL YOUR ENTERTAINMENT NEEDS A very good place to slow down and relax. It is an ideal spot to enjoy the evening with your favorite drink in your hand. The deck area can also be used to host a cocktail or any other night-time entertainment. Food Menu At Pegasus Reef, you will always enjoy a smorgasbord of delectable local as well as international cuisine. Theme foods are a specialty at the hotel, and you can be rest assured that your guest will always remember the fantastic food fare at the hotel. Beauty At Large
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egasus Reef Hotel – Wattala was the first star class hotel in Sri Lanka to open its doors to visitors in the 70's. Since entering the hospitality stream in the country, the hotel has recently undergone a massive refurbishment process and has upgraded all its services and amenities to modern star class grandeur. Bordering the blue seas of the Indian Ocean, it is in a unique location with the airport and the country's capital just minutes away from the hotel. The hotel is surrounded by natural beauty and the hospitality of the staff makes you feel comforted and cosseted. The scenery around lends itself to make your special occasions be memorable. Not only for your private functions, but also for any official conferences or workshops, Pegasus Reef Hotel is the ideal location.
Outdoor Entertaining Pegasus Reef Hotel has a beautiful stretch of garden extending towards the sea. Sunset on the beach is a wondrous sight not to be missed. With the sea on one side and the swimming pool on the other, the outside is automatically 'air conditioned' with natural breezes. The beautifully landscaped garden is one of the most wonderful locations for an outdoor function. The seating could be arranged to suit your requirements making it your very own function. Seating arrangements can be made for 300 guests in the garden giving you the freedom to let your dream come true under a blue, blue sky. Pool Deck
Spectacular surroundings of the hotel make it a most special place for weddings. Every nook and corner of the hotel is photo-worthy and would add charm to your specially captured moments. Honeymoon Specials The hotel extends special care and attention to couples who are on their honeymoon. Their rooms are given specialty treatments with gifts to make them feel welcome . Couples who have their weddings at the Pegasus Reef hotel are offered a complimentary room for the first night. In addition, the hotel will also help you with flower decor, dancing troupe and 'Ashtaka' to lighten your burden of finding personnel for these services.
Banquet Halls The hotel has two main banquet halls. Aptly named "Ranthambara" hall, facing the beach can entertain 350 guests while the second hall “Sobara”, located near the front lobby, has facilities for 250 guests. The brand new lighting system can be used to create the necessary mood and ambience to make your guests enjoy the occasion even better. Conference Hall "Ekwin" and "Pehara" are the two conference halls in the hotel. These can accommodate (roughly) 25 and 75 guests respectively. Both halls are equipped with modern state-of-the art multimedia projectors and audio solutions. The staff is always at hand to assist you whenever you need their assistance. JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 67
PEOPLE’S AUTO LOAN, HELPS REALIZE YOUR ‘VEHICLE DREAM’!
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e all aspire to drive around in a vehicle of our own, yet not many of us are fortunate to realize this dream. This is where the country’s pioneering state bank, People’s Bank, steps in. The People’s Auto Loan is specially designed to help all those aspiring individuals to own an automobile that fits their purpose, budget and social status.
This exciting loan scheme enables professionals, entrepreneurs and other individuals who are in permanent employment to buy a vehicle of their choice; may it be for their personal use or for any type of business and commercial purpose. Accordingly, the People’s Auto Loan facilitates purchase of vehicles by providing financial assistance up to 75% of the invoice value in the case of brand new vehicles, while in the case of unregistered, reconditioned vehicles; up to 75% of the amount valued is granted as a loan. People’s Auto Loan has also been extended to cover the used vehicle market where those customers who intend purchasing a used vehicle will receive financial assistance of up to 60% of the amount valued, thus helping a large cross section of Sri Lankans to be proud owners of automobiles. The Bank has also made arrangements to introduce special concessionary interest rates with repayment periods ranging between 5 – 7 years, thus making it ultra convenient for customers. Those opting for the 5 year payback period will be required to pay a monthly installment of only Rs. 2,378.99 for Rs. 100,000/- while in the case of customers who select the 7 year repayment option will pay just Rs. 1,929.68 for Rs.100,000/Apart from attractive interest rates and payment conditions, customers of People’s Auto Loan also receive many attractive benefits. Arrangements have also been made to issue application forms for the People’s Auto Loan from over 730 People’s Bank branches spread across the island with convenient and simplified processing to make it a hassle-free exercise. The Bank does not charge any fee as ‘processing fees’ while the loan has been structured in a manner that interest is charged on a reducing-balance basis, thus making it a truly customer-friendly loan scheme. What’s more, there are no hidden charges associated with the People’s Auto Loan, and VAT too will not be added into the monthly installment. In addition, no penalty will be imposed in the event the loan is paid prior to the agreed loan period. Contact the nearest People’s Bank branch for further information on the People’s Auto Loan and own your ‘dream vehicle’ today!
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RED BULL’S BALOOSHI HELPS FOXHILL BREAK NEW GROUND
iders at Sri Lanka’s premier motocross extravaganza, the Foxhill Super Cross, embellished their usual high octane antics with a fresh dimension of invention and class, as they were encouraged to new heights by an internationally-aligned upgrade to the course, fuelled by the vast experience of champion Red Bull champion motocross rider Mohammed Balooshi. The Dubai-based motocross veteran consulted with the project’s engineers and designers in the lead-up to the main event, contributing immensely to a finished product at Diyatalawa, which closely resembled some of the world's top racetracks. “The new track features more rhythm sections (a combination of successive jumps) and is wider now by about three to four metres to allow for more in-race competition and overtaking. Overall, it’s more technical with a variety of obstacles and jumps, and very challenging,” Balooshi, a Dakar Rally rider who counts the Arab Motocross Championship among his laundry list of accolades, revealed. After testing the track ahead of race day, the country’s most celebrated and battle-tested riders, Gayan Sandaruwan, was full of praise for the course facelift saying the new changes actively engaged each rider’s creativity and technique while simultaneously enriching their riding experience. He asserted that the revamped track would ultimately uplift the standards of local riders and position them strongly at foreign competitions.
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SLT LAUNCHED WORLD CLASS “CARRIER-GRADE” PUBLIC WI-FI “HOTSPOTS” FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SRI LANKA. Existing SLT Broadband (ADSL) users can use the same username and password to connect to any of SLT’s public Wi-Fi Hotspots Main cities will be powered with high speed public Wi-Fi hotspots Business premises empowered to provide high-speed internet access to their visitors All type of Wi-Fi supported laptop, tab and smartphone users to benefit. Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the national ICT solutions provider and the largest communication backbone network operator in the country announced that it has introduced its cutting-edge “carrier-grade” public Wi-Fi technology in Sri Lanka. All Sri Lankans are now able to experience the next evolution in wireless broadband connectivity in the very near future, as SLT expands Sri Lanka’s first carriergrade Wi-Fi network.
broadband experience. The company believes ‘SLT Wi-Fi’ solution is set to revolutionise the mobile computing experience for end-users. Commonly known busy places like airports, hotels and cafés with Wi-Fi connectivity, an increasing number of enterprises, SMEs and retailers are looking to offer Wi-Fi as a value added service, so customers and visitors will have a better experience for shopping etc. Through SLT Wi-Fi Hotspots highend enterprises, private and public
Fi capable mobile or smart device when travelling, shopping, meeting friends, at an event,...etc. Hon Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunication and IT, expressing his views, said “Today, the need for more options for ICT, connectivity and bandwidth is very much needed to move forward with the country’s development goals. GoSL is very clear on the country’s ICT strategy and we are not only confined to urban town areas when introducing new technology and ICT services. We are also bringing
(L to R) - Mr. Lalith De Silva, Group Chief Executive Officer of SLT, Hon. Mahipala Herath, Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Province, Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunications & IT at the ceremony held at Pinnawala recently in the presence of several VIPs, Invitees and SLT Senior Officials.
The official ceremony in this regard was held on 17th May marking World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) at the world famous elephant orphanage in Pinnawela premises in the presence of Hon Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunication and IT. Hon. Mahipala Herath, Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Province, Mr. S.M. Gotabaya Jayarathne, Secretary to the Ministry of Telecommunications & IT and Mr. Lalith de Silva, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom.
institutions, SMEs and micro businesses also will get new opportunities to tap into new business models as well as to improve their businesses and attract more customers simply by creating an inviting environment for customers and visitors to spend more time within or around the premises.
The company will be further expanding its public Wi-Fi hotspot service, which is the Next Generation Wireless Broadband Access (WBA) technology to expand and improve the overall quality of the country’s broadband footprint to empower more citizens in the country with a superior
Existing SLT Broadband users will get immense freedom to get connect to any of SLT’s public Wi-Fi Hotspots by using the same Broadband username and password which they use at home or office to connect to the internet. Connecting to SLT Wi-Fi Hotspots is possible with any Wi-
technological advancements even to the farthest rural areas of the country. This is one of the classic examples where SLT has introduced carrier-grade Wi-Fi technology in Pinnawala, an area that is away from the highly commercial City Colombo. SLT’s active participation in industry level developments are very much needed at this stage of the country’s growth. I believe SLT’s public Wi-Fi deployment is one of the most significant enhancements as well as a major milestone in the telecommunications sector in Sri Lanka. I wish to congratulate SLT for their efforts in deploying state-of-the-art ICT platforms for the benefit of the industry as a whole.
JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 69
ETISALAT LANKA HAS BECOME THE FIRST MOBILE OPERATOR IN SRI LANKA TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE GSMA, FOR HIGH DEFINITION VOICE (HD VOICE).
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his accreditation means Etisalat Lanka is now among the twenty six international mobile operators to meet the internationally recognized criteria pertaining to noise cancellation, voice clarity and multiple technical features. Etisalat Lanka is also the only mobile operator to be included in the GSMA’s HD Voice Ecosystem. Expressing his views, Wail Salman, acting CEO of Etisalat Lanka stated, “Having met the criteria set by the GSM Association, in their efforts to standardize the services provided by telecommunication operators around the world, Etisalat Lanka received the accreditation for the HD Voice services we introduced recently. HD Voice provides high quality voice transmissions and a better overall experience for the user and this accreditation is an endorsement of the quality of the service we offer. The service is offered island wide.” Voice, is the primary mode of communication in the Sri Lankan mobile market to date. The use of HD Voice technology makes it possible to filter background noise and allows the caller to hear a clearer and crisper voice in addition to capturing its natural variations that are not detected in traditional audio standards. “The GSMA is pleased to see that Etisalat Lanka has adopted HD Voice on its network which will provide customers with high-quality, crystal clear voice calls,” said David Hutton, Director of Technology, GSMA. “The GSMA advocates the consumer benefits of HD Voice as part of its Network 2020 programme and works closely with operators and the wider telecommunications industry to ensure HD Voice is adopted and recognised as widely as possible.” To experience HD Voice and for more information on the service, customers can now visit any one of the Etisalat Flagship stores located across the island
‘SEA-PERB’ CELEBRATIONS AT THE MANHATTAN FISH MARKET THIS JUNE
Shafraz Anees, Managing Director, The Manhattan FISH MARKET Sri Lanka
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opular restaurant chain The Manhattan FISH MARKET Sri Lanka celebrated its 1st anniversary on the 1st of June. In conjunction with its anniversary the franchisee, Sri Lankan based Everbright Holdings Pvt. Ltd. officially opened its second branch in Rajagiriya. Diners are to expect the same exceptional dining experience and sea-perb seafood offerings that have already won the hearts of many Sri Lankans. In a short period of time the restaurant has grown exponentially into one of the best seafood restaurants in the county today and has also been awarded by The Manhattan FISH MARKET Global Business Convention as ‘The Excellent Service Franchisee’ and ‘The Most Promising Franchisee’ last year. The restaurant was also awarded with the renowned TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence recently. Commenting on the occasion, George Ang, Group CEO & Co-Founder, The Manhattan FISH MARKET, stated: “We are very proud of what The Manhattan FISH MARKET team in Sri Lanka has achieved in such a short period of time. The team here has been exceptional and has truly contributed to our brands strength.” Renowned as a place for fine seafood, The Manhattan FISH MARKET dedicates itself to serving up a storm with its wide variety of American-style seafood choices, in its fun and warm casual dining atmosphere catering to seafood fin-actics, far and wide. Along with its celebrations, the brand announced the opening of the Rajagiriya branch, its
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second outlet in one year in order to cater to the needs of seafood lovers. Diners could look forward to the ambience of the new branch located at 997/1, Sri Jayawardanapura Mawatha, Rajagiriya. True to the brand inspiration, the restaurant at Rajagiriya reflects the raw and unpretentious ambiance of the traditional seafood marketing place. Taking this to life, the new Rajagiriya branch features ‘The Bridge’ room and ‘The Times Square’ room which allows guests to feel as in they are dining in the razzle and dazzle of The Times Square. Embodying the casual dining experience of the brand, the branch ‘The Doodle Room’ illustrated with lively doodles and sketches allows diners to unleash their creativity. Speaking of the milestone, Shafraz Anees, Managing Director, The Manhattan FISH MARKET Sri Lanka, stated: “This is a great achievement for our team. As we mark our one year anniversary, I would like to thank our global team for all their support. Additionally, the opening of our Rajagiriya branch is a key highlight of the year as we were able to open not one but two branches in one year. This could also not have been possible without the support and commitment of the great team we have here.” In addition to the celebrations, The Manhattan FISH MARKET Sri Lanka also announced its fin-tastic upcoming Ramanadan promotion and the launch of its sea-perb kids menu. For more information on ongoing promotions visit The Manhattan FISH MARKET's Facebook at www.facebook.com/MFMsrilanka The award winning casual dining international MFM franchise is known far and wide for specializing in premium seafood in over 7 countries with 55 outlets in Asia and the Middle East, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Oman.. The restaurant offers seafood which is cooked five different ways; baked, poached, grilled, fried and flamed using ingredients that are of the highest quality.
The Manhattan FISH MARKET Team
PANDANUS BEACH RESORT SPARKS A NEW WAVE IN SRI LANKAN HOSPITALITY
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ri Lanka’s hospitality sector welcomed its newest entrant with the launch of Pandanus Beach Resort and Spa in Induruwa. The luxurious property was inaugurated by H.E. President Mahinda Rajapakse at a
keeping with this vision for excellence. The management pulled out all the stops, treating a selection of high profile invitees in attendance to an evening of entertainment and culinary indulgence. An aerial artist, flown
Pool overlooks beach amidst pandanus trees
varying needs of guests, offering the choice of Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Junior Suites, Suites or a grand Presidential Suite. All rooms are tastefully furnished in keeping with the landscape of the environment and offer a terrace or balcony overlooking the sea, complimentary WiFi which is available throughout the hotel, in room tea and coffee facilities, flat screen TVs with satellite channels, individual safes, rain showers as well as several other amenities. Deluxe Rooms and Suites contain private Jacuzzis with a scenic ocean view and a private lounge area. The 2,500 square foot Presidential Suite is the epitome of luxury with a large private plunge pool with a view of the ocean, two private rooms with their own terraced view of the ocean, an in room dining area, lounge and private Jacuzzi.
Sky Bar offers a panoramic sea view
Every room overlooks the Indian Ocean
glittering event recently. The sprawling five-storey, 96 room resort is set beside a secluded 300-metre stretch of pristine beach along Sri Lanka’s Southern coast. It is nestled amongst a lush, natural growth of Pandanus trees, locally referred to as ‘Wetakeiya,’ from which it derives its name. Aesthetically designed by renowned architect Vinod Jayasinghe, all guest areas, including every room, restaurant, bar and pool, offer a refreshing view of the Indian Ocean. The brand new resort bears five star facilities and was constructed on an investment of over LKR 2 billion. Jointly owned by Thilakawardhana Group of Companies and Ever Green Plantation Management Company in equal shares, the property was developed with the vision of bringing global acclaim to tourism in Sri Lanka through personalised attention, uncompromising quality, relentless commitment and genuine Sri Lankan hospitality. Joint Managing Directors, Aruna De Silva and Sunil Thilakawardhana, are reputed entrepreneurs in the tea production and textiles industries respectively. The opening ceremony of the Pandanus Beach Resort and Spa was executed in
Large private plunge pool at the Presidential Suite
down exclusively for the event, had the audience spellbound with gravity-defying contortions performed mid-air followed by an aqua dance performance in the resort’s pool. Performances by Sri Lankan celebrities Natasha Rathnayake, Randhir, Muddrika Dance Studio and a custom choreographed dance by the Budawatta Dance Troupe were a testament to the wealth of talent within Sri Lanka’s vibrant entertainment industry. “The Sri Lankan hospitality landscape has been progressing rapidly since the dawn of peace and we are very excited to play an active role in the country’s progress. Pandanus Beach Resort and Spa is the type of place that even the most discerning traveler will connect with instantly. The feedback has been so positive, we are already planning our next phase of development and hope to add on more luxury rooms and a beach restaurant soon,” enthused Anil Perera, General Manager, Pandanus Beach Resort and Spa. Perera brings over 35 years industry experience in Sri Lanka and abroad. Having specialized in F&B, his experience extends to serving as Executive Chef and over 25 years in general management. Five
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Ground level rooms open out to a breathtaking 150 foot swimming pool which stretches parallel to the ocean. Shallow, shaded alcoves within the pool provide tranquil spaces to unwind, while children can enjoy the water in their own child-friendly pool nearby. A highly skilled team of chefs with local and international experience serves a cross-section of cuisines at the resort’s Main Restaurant, a romantic setting on the beach, or in the privacy of guests’ rooms. Guests may dine in the comfort of the air-conditioned interior of the restaurant or enjoy the natural breeze of the ocean, engulfed in the exquisite gastronomy on offer. Perched on the rooftop is Sky Bar, a unique rooftop bar that provides an unfettered view of the ocean as guests indulge in drinks under the stars. Alternatively, guests may settle in at the lobby bar for drinks or enjoy the evening’s entertainment. Accentuating its idyllic surroundings, the Pandanus Wellness Spa, managed by Ariana Spas offers a variety of the revitalizing treatments administered by internationally and locally experienced therapists. A rejuvenating work out at the resort’s state of art gymnasium promises to keep even the devoted health buff gratified. Plans are in place to invest in a second luxury hotel which will offer guests a close to nature experience. Discussions are underway with foreign investors and construction is expected to commence before the end of the year.
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SAMPATH BANK &IMOVATION INTRODUCE REVOLUTIONARY ‘SAMPATH Z RELOAD’ Amor Chaowdhury CEO Margento Nederlands & Slovenia
Sampath Bank PLC together with Imovation Solutions (pvt) Ltd. Launched the revolutionary ‘Sampath Z Reload service’,thereby further expanding its fast-growingtally of ‘firsts’ in Sri Lanka’s banking industry and supporting employment generation for Divineguma beneficiaries. According to Statistics,While 90% of country’s mobile users rely on reload services(pre-paid connections),the majority of reload outlets do not provide reload facilities for all mobile communication networks.Sampath Z Reload service technology from Europe ( made available through the application’s owner- Margento in Solvenia)Which facilitates hassle-free top up of prepaid mobile connections belonging to any mobile network- therefore represents a substantial enhancement of convenience for millions of Sri Lankans with prepaid mobile connections.
Aravinda Perera MD Sampath Bank Plc
Sampath Z Reload service offers enhanced convenience due to elimination of time wasted in search of reload outlets and greater confidence of the accuracy of reload transactions – as the confirmation is received via SMS and a receipt is issued to the customer is not required to divulge his/her mobile number to the service agent. Now, using Sampath Z reload service, users of all pre-paid mobile connections can conveniently top up their accounts in three ways ; via POS devices of Sampath Z Reload service agents by using cash payments or account debit and SMS reload. At the initial stages , Sampath Z Reload agents will be available at key locations frequented by the general public including the main bus stands and railway stations.
Tharaka Ranwala DGM Mkt & Business Development Sampath Bank Plc
The launch ceremony for Sampath Z Reload was held at Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo recently,with the participation of senior management of all mobile communication networks and corporate management of Sampath Bank and Imovation (Pvt) Ltd.
Left to Rigth Amor Chowdhury,Sajith Hewakurumburage,Upul Fernando,Aravinda Perera,Nanda Fernando and Tharaka Ranwala Upul Fernando Director Immovation Pvt Ltd
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HNBA WINS FIRST PLACE AT SAFA AWARDS IN THE INSURANCE SECTOR
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NB Assurance PLC, the innovative Insurance solutions provider in Sri Lanka has brought honour to the nation again by winning the most coveted South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) award for ‘Best Presented Annual Report in the Insurance Sector’ at the SAFA awards ceremony recently held in Islamabad, Pakistan. “Power to Dream”
HNB Assurance’s first ever Integrated Annual Report, themed “Power to Dream”, escalated the Company to the prestigious top position in the insurance industry in the South Asian Region with its bagging of the Gold Award for the Best Annual Report in the insurance sector. This is the second time that the company was acclaimed this position. Beating industry giants to reach the apex twice in a row, within its short life span of 13 years is considered a remarkable achievement in the history of the Company. The SAFA is an Apex Body of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) and the Regional Grouping of International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), which represents over 170,000 accountants who are members of national chartered accountancy and cost and management accountancy institutions in South Asia. HNB Assurance has done exceptionally well to have won this prestigious SAFA Award among a total of 85 Awards while the remaining prizes were shared between companies from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Transparency and Accountability “HNB Assurance has been awarded for its mission of promoting transparency and accountability and for promoting better accounting and auditing standards in the SAARC Region and this award is a great tribute to the excellent teamwork and dedication of people at all levels as well as to our customers and shareholders who have placed their confidence in the company”, stated Manjula de Silva, Managing Director of HNB Assurance. Vipula Dharmapala, Chief Financial Officer of HNB Assurance stated that this is the third Annual Report Award that HNB Assurance PLC has won for its Annual Report 2012. We won the Overall Excellence in Annual Financial Reporting – Bronze Award (joint), and the Gold Award in the Insurance Companies Sector at the Chartered Accountants Annual Report Awards 2013. HNB Assurance PLC is one of the fastest growing Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka with a network of 51 branches. HNBA is a composite Insurance company with a rating of A (lka) by Fitch Rating Lanka for “National Insurer Financial Strength Rating” and “National Longterm Rating”. HNBA is also rated within the Top 100 Brands and Top 100 companies in Sri Lanka by LMD and HNB Assurance recently won International awards for Brand Excellence and HR Excellence and also won many awards for its Annual Reports at the Award ceremonies organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, ACCA Sri Lanka (Association of the Chartered Certified Accountants) and SAFA (South Asian Federation of Accountants) The Board of Directors of HNB Assurance PLC has appointed Dr. Sivakumar Selliah as a Non-executive Independent Director with effect from 17th June 2014. Dr. Selliah is the Deputy Chairman of Asiri Hospitals Holdings Plc and Asiri Surgical Hospital Plc and Central Hospital Ltd. He is also the Chairman of Cleanco Lanka Ltd and JAT Holdings Ltd. He is a Director of Lanka Floor Tiles Plc, Expolanka Holdings Plc, Horana Plantation Plc, Softlogic Holdings Plc, Lanka Walltiles Plc and Lanka Ceramic Plc. He has served on the Remuneration Committee and Audit Committee of some of these companies as Chairman or as a member of the Committee. Dr. Selliah holds an MBBS Degree and a Master’s Degree (M.Phill). He has over 22 years experience in diverse fields which includes areas of manufacturing, healthcare, plantations, packaging and logistics. The Board of Directors of HNB Assurance now comprises Dr. Ranee Jayamaha (Chairperson), Manjula de Silva (Managing Director), M.U. De Silva, S.C. Ratwatte, J. Alles, J.A.P.M. Jayasekera, K. Balasundaram, D.P.N. Rodrigo, S.N. Wickramasinghe and Dr. S. Selliah. HNB Assurance PLC is one of the fastest growing Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka with a network of 51 branches. HNBA is a composite Insurance company with a rating of A (lka) by Fitch Rating Lanka for “National Insurer Financial Strength Rating” and “National Long- term Rating”. HNBA is also rated within the Top 100 Brands and Top 100 companies in Sri Lanka by LMD and HNB Assurance recently won International awards for Brand Excellence and HR Excellence and also won many awards for its Annual Reports at the Award ceremonies organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, ACCA Sri Lanka (Association of the Chartered Certified Accountants) and SAFA (South Asian Federation of Accountants) JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 73
RANNA 212 BEACH RESORT,TANGALLE EARNS 2014 TRIPADVISOR TOP HOTELS AWARD
Ranna212 Beach Resort, Tangalle has been honoured as a top performing resort on the worlds’ largest travel site “TripAdvisor” with the status as coming on 10 out of 25 in the overall Top Hotels winner category. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.
CEO-ANANDARAJ Chief Executive Officer of Auro Resorts [Tangalle] Private Limited Anandaraj comments that, “It has been a great achievement for Ranna212 Beach Resort to have received this award in just 24 months since the launch of the resort”. The award is a depiction of Ranna212 Beach Resorts’ sheer passion and continuous improvement of Hotel Operations to exceed customer expectations. “The team at Ranna212 Beach Resort led by Harsha Jayasinghe, the Resident Manager is clearly dedicated to understanding intricate elements of what varied guests seek”. Anandaraj is of the opinion that whilst guests who visit this four star plus resort set on a stunning stretch of ocean essentially seek sun, sand and sea, the team plays a significant role in unearthing hidden desires. Guests show deep appreciation in understanding and partaking in traditions of the Deep South coast, unique Sri Lankan culinary experiences and much more including experiential tours in and around the Resort. Anandaraj further added that as the modernist traveller seeks to make well informed plans for a journey, the use of seamless links to booking tools is an ever increasingly vital component. Information on selected destinations and properties in order to plan and enjoy a memorable trip, results in guests turning to websites such as Trip Advisor for reliable guidance. Sharing of experiences and enabling customers to feel empowered by the sharing feedback is at the very core of Ranna212 Beach Resort’s success with all Associates being part of the process. In this changing landscape of tourism the Top Hotels award from TripAdvisor represents an immense accomplishment for Ranna212 Beach Resort, Tangalle with an identification of one of the most outstanding properties. 74 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • JUNE - JULY 2014
WINE & DINE OR GO ALL AMERICAN THIS 4TH OF JULY AT MLH
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th of July is a day filled with great food and good times with friends and family. MLH should be a must be culinary destination on your list! Featuring two very distinctive events the “All American BBQ” and the “Wine and Dine Evening”
The All Amecian BBQ is one of the most popular dinner spreads that MLH has got a knack for, Featuring mouth watering specialties such as Chuck Wagon, New Orleans BBQ, Boston Chowder, Southern Fried Chicken, Pumpkin Pie and many more to tempt your taste buds. Offered at a special rate of Rs.2600/= nett per person at the Governor’s Restaurant & Terrace, with many more offers such as a free beer pitcher for groups of 05 or more, free beer tower for groups of 10 or more and fabulous discounts of 25% off for AMCHAM and Embassy members upon producing their membership card. The main objective of organizing a “Wine and Dine night” is to put diners in touch with other people, for some light hearted conversation over great food and wine. The evening will be a masterful multi course gourmet dinner prepared by our very own Italian Chef Cristian Di Sandri, along with Wine connoisseur Brett Jackson of Vina Valdiviesco’s perfectly balanced wines, sponsored by Favourite International to complement the meal. For Rs. 3900/= nett per person, you get seven wines paired with seven food items and three types of cheese and ending the evening with Lavazza – Italy’s favourite coffee, which will be held at the Maitland state room. So come enjoy this 4th of July at MLH with good food and great wine may it be an all American BBQ or sophisticated sit down dinner.
For reservations call 2711 711 ext 430 / 446
JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 75
RECENTLY IN ELLA, ELLA MOUNT HEAVEN OPENED THEIR RECEPTION HALL
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ecently in Ella, Ella Mount Heaven opened their Reception Hall by Mr. Royston Ellis World famous author and Travel writer, with proceeding by traditional dancers and lighting the traditional oil lamp. Proprietor Mr. Upali Ranasighe, and other distinguished guests were present at the opening ceremony. Newly opened reception hall can be accommodate with 350 personnel in any occasion. 15th, Mile Post, Wellawaya Road, Ella. (Bandarawela) Telephone: 057 4933200 / 057 4933201
SLTTI ENGAGES IN A GRAND PROMOTION AT KCC
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ri Lanka The Treasure Island (SLTTI), the international travel and tour magazine recently concluded its grand brand promotion campaign at the KCC in Kandy. Visitors, book lovers and investors of the hotel and travel trade local and international here, grabbed the opportunity of speaking to the editorial and the business promotions team of SLTTI to have a firsthand knowledge and bunches of information on the booming travel industry in Sri Lanka. Copies of the magazine were also distributed free of charge to the visitors at the SLTTI centre at the KCC. The two mega TV panels at the SLTTI centre at KCC made several exclusive presentations to the crowds about the magazine as well as the fast growing travel and tour trade in Sri Lanka. 76 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • JUNE - JULY 2014
JUNE - JULY 2014 • SRI LANKA THE TREASURE ISLAND • 77
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and Sri Lanka caught, tamed years ago, elephants were Welcome To Treasure Isl with Lankan kings over 2000 reservoirs have been built During the reign of the Sri the elephants. temples and vast initiated. Large palaces, had a long association with construction works that they The Sri Lankan people have the large scale and massive for bers num large in and used the aid of elephants. Assistant ed his career as a Research Vasantha Nugegoda start n Ripley from d famous Primatologist Suza worl of ance guid the r unde served as the Washington. Vasantha has the Smithsonian Institute ing and develiwela Zoo, for further learn General Curator of the Deh London zoo for three to t wen He ent. agem opment on Zoo Man d which was under the Jersey Channel islan Trust in years and was traiend at Durrell and at the Wildfowl ld Gera t ralis Natu n the well-know t. Scot r Piete Sir r unde ge Slim Brid
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