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SLTDA
rest houses become ‘family friendly’; To stop
selling liquor
In keeping with the Narambamu Sri Lanka project launched
by the Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with Sri
Lanka Tourism, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority
(SLTDA) has initiated a campaign to refurbish the existing,
SLTDA owned rest houses and holiday resorts.
The Narambamu Sri Lanka project singularly aims to spur
interest in domestic tourism, and encourage Sri Lankans
to travel within our own country, discovering lesser
known attractions among the more widely known, and popular
sites of historic and cultural interest.
SLTDA owns and manages pilgrim rest houses at Kataragama
and Anuradhapura and domestic holiday resorts at Nuwara
Eliya and Bandarawela. During the year 2007 and 2008,
Bandarawella and Nuwara Eliya resorts were fully refurbished
and the Kataragama Pilgrim Rest House is being refurbished
at present as well as other ground improvements being
planned for the immediate surroundings. The Anuradhapura
Rest House will be refurbished subsequently.
On the instructions of the Minister of Tourism, Milinda
Moragoda, policy changes in terms of internal operations
are also being looked at to create a religiously oriented
and family friendly environment, within the respective
rest houses and holiday resorts.
The Kataragama Rest House is located within the sacred
city area and neither liquor, nor fish or meat, are
served at the venue. The Anuradhapura Rest House is
located in close proximity to the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree
and while liquor is not being served there, only vegetarian
food will be served at this rest house too, in future.
Furthermore, it has been decided that liquor will not
be served at Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela Resorts, effective
April14, in a bid to attract families with children.
SLTDA and SLTPB Chairman, Bernard Goonetilleke said,
“With the change in concepts, our products will
be placed in a unique position, differentiated from
other establishments in the region. Combined with the
economical prices, this will offer the average local
person, the freedom to travel within our country with
ease”.
The Anuradhapura Rest House will be the only establishment
in the area where singularly vegetarian dishes will
be served. This will form a key differentiation in terms
of this venue, and its value as a family retreat will
be enhanced.
Director Domestic Tourism and Community Relations of
SLTDA, P U Rathnayake stated, “We have carried
out a training programme with the assistance of Sri
Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM)
and Hotel Taj Samudra to train the chefs in the preparation
of vegetarian dishes, in order to ensure the food retains
high quality.”
You can reserve space at these establishments through
the SLTDA Head Office in Colombo or by directly calling
the respective destinations. To get in touch with the
SLTDA Head Office in Colombo, please dial 2348887 or
052-2222943 in Nuwara Eliya, 057-2222209 in Bandarawela,
025-2222188 in Anuradhapura, and 047-2235227 in Kataragama.
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