With the festive season just around the corner elaborate plans are being made to transform the city of Colombo in to a Tourism Wonderland from the 20th to the 23rd of December this year. Two signature events will take place in Colombo – Christmas Fest at the Independence Arcade from December 20th to 22nd and Christmas Street at Green Path from December 21st to 23rd.
Sri Lanka Tourism under the guidance of the Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs is making elaborate plans for the third edition of Christmas Fest which took the city by storm last December. The idea behind this unique event is to portray Sri Lankan food, culture, gems, handicrafts, tea, shopping and entertainment at one venue during the height of the tourist season. According to sources at Sri Lanka Tourism, this year’s Fest will be a bigger and better version of last year. Christmas Fest is a concept of Tourism Development Minister, John Amaratunga who having realized the absence of any organized tourism related event during the festive season when city hotels are filled with foreign tourists, decided to organize a multi-day event bringing together tourism stake holders. The event is complemented with nonstop entertainment by leading pop groups and artistes, tri-force bands, choral groups and cultural shows providing both local and foreign tourists a memorable experience. A new addition this year is a Christmas Zone in the environs of the Independence Arcade, organized by SLRC/