Greetings !
Vesak, Sri Lanka’s major Buddhist festival, is a significant event for tourism and a vibrant time in the city, offering a unique blend of spiritual and cultural experiences, attracting both local and international visitors.
The festival, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha transforms the country into a sea of light and color with elaborate lantern displays and cultural performances.
With just one week away to commence the official Vesak week, the preparations will commence, if not already for the creations to illuminate one’s environs. Therefore expect a festive atmosphere in Colombo, in particular, when it becomes a bustling hub of activity with designated Vesak zones featuring grand pandals (temporary structures) and lantern displays and exhibitions, temple decorations and community gatherings. It’s a popular time for travel & tourism, with a long weekend next week.
For those who have already gone to the colder climes, for the holidays, to watch the horse races in Nuwere Eliya, can extend their stay as the City of Nuwera Eliya will illuminate like never before as it has been officially declared the city to hold the state Vesak celebrations this year.
Sky High Wins
Meanwhile there was excitement at Sunday Observer Explorer office with the first Raffle draw of the ‘Sky High Wins’. Yes we got a clear winner and we are so pleased to announce on this same page with a photo captured at the time of draw. It is a lady who has won, and we wish her the very best with her win of an Airline ticket. We have more good news, it was decided that we will also have consolation prizes for 4 others drawn thereafter with Sri Lankan give always, and free subscription of the Sunday Observer Explorer. We will be publishing each week the other consolation Prize winners names and more information on this.
In the meantime continue to send your coupons for the 2nd draw to win free Airline ticket in exactly 8 weeks from this Sunday. As announced at the onset Sri Lankan Airlines is gifting an Airline ticket every two months. Therefore don’t delay to send in the coupon appears with the answers to the NEW questions we have published along with the coupon on page 29 commencing today.
Peace Haven Bungalow
This week, we have featured Peace Haven Bungalow which is aptly named. The environs are breathtaking and the Bungalow is part of the hotel, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle. They hosted an evening of style and elegance that included an Opera performance followed by a grand dinner at this exclusive and luxurious event venue by the sea.
More and more up-market mesmerizing locations are emerging in Sri Lanka, which are quietly gaining ground for the country in the luxury tourism sector. Speaking of Luxury and hospitality, we have been fortunate to have a global hospitality visionary, Sanjiv Hulugalle who has returned home to take the standerds of hospitality o even greater heights with appointment as CEO/ GM at Cinnamon Life- City of Dreams. The hotel made headlines when it was set up with their one of a kind services and facilities.
On Page 31 we have Sanjiv on the Hot Seat with his interesting views and where he reveals his quiet determination to create a culture and attitude in hospitality where the service will be seen in an entirely different light, where Cinnamon Life- City of Dreams he says will be the heartbeat of Colombo.
With so many holidays abound, we invite the readers to write in your experiences of your travels, we will pick on the best for publication. In the meantime we will do our best to give you the best Sunday read on Travel that would last the entire week and more.
We meet again through these columns next week, until then, Happy Reading !
