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Sri Lanka’s KumbukRiver has been nominated for the Leading Eco-Lodge in the World at the World Travel Awards – the Oscars of the travel and tourism world, the first time Sri Lanka figures among the ‘world’s leading’ classifications at the showpiece annual event which also includes awards by continent as well.

KumbukRiver has been voted among the world’s eight leading eco-lodges and will vie for the top slot when professionals from over 160,000 travel agents in over 200 countries vote for the first-ever Green Awards category at the 14 year-old event hailed as the most coveted awards scheme of the travel and tourism industry. KumbukRiver’s dramatic entry receives further significance as the other resorts nominated are all large-scale and well-established enterprises and only seven countries from the world are on the honours list.

The nomination by the WTA puts the eco-lodge from far-flung Buttala on the world tourism map, not for the first time, with KumbukRiver securing two other international accolades. KumbukRiver has currently been shortlisted for an award at the Virgin-Responsible Tourism Awards while Times-Online voted it among the world’s 50 best green places to stay, last year, making KumbukRiver the hottest Sri Lankan destination in the world of tourism.

Offering a shot in the arm to the crippled tourism industry, Sri Lanka also figures in the Asia category, in addition to KumbukRiver’s extraordinary nomination in the ‘world’s leading…’ category. Sri Lanka is nominated for Asia’s leading destination offering a ray of hope for the country as a nomination at the WTA receives the attention of the world media, especially in Europe and USA.

Two other Sri Lankan entities are recognised this year by the WTA – Jetwing’s Ayurveda Pavilion has received two nominations, one under ‘Asia’s leading Resorts’ and the other in the category of ‘Asia’s leading Spa Resorts,’ while SriLankan Airlines is named amongst Asia’s best airlines, completing an unexpectedly bountiful year for Sri Lanka.

KumbukRiver leads Sri Lanka’s resurgence on the world tourism market. The international accolades assume dramatic proportions considering the entire concept for the unique eco-lodge was a wild idea mooted by the maverick ad agency. The 7th Frontier, whose executives have had no exposure to the tourism industry previously, but catapulted Sri Lanka on to the world stage with a model project that has already received raving reviews around the world.

The man behind Sri Lanka’s unexpected forays at the World Travel Awards, Dinesh Watawana says that his team wanted to attract the world’s attention to Sri Lanka when they masterminded an eco-resort which features a 40ft elephant as its primary villa, but were stunned by the news, particularly from the WTA.

To find out more on this spell binding eco-hideout, visitors are most welcome to visit their website at www.kumbukriver.com.

“This is literally a story laced with blood and sweat and how this amazing eco-lodge took roots in an area not known for tourism and amidst huge strife and hurdles, is a testimony to the spirit of youth in this country. True to our vision, the entire project was the handiwork of unemployed youth from the hamlet of Okkampitiya in Buttala who rallied around us,” he says.

“This accolade has proven that sincere efforts to offer hope to where there’s no hope and inspiring rural youth to stand tall in the face of poverty can manifest in the most intriguing of designs, which would go on to win the world’s attention”, he quips.