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Rs. 1 b tourism promotion zone at Dedduwa

by Tharika Goonathilake

The area available for development

The Tourism Ministry, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and Ministry of Southern Development, has embarked on an extensive tourism development project encompassing Bentota's Dedduwa Lake and its environs. The area selected for development lies to the East of the Bentota tourist resort area.

The two Ministries hope to bring in investments to the tune of around Rs. 1 billion through this proposed enterprise, while developing 4000 acres of land which will be designated as a special tourist zone in the Dedduwa electorate.

"This area is available for immediate development investments on a 30 year lease with provisions to extend it to 50 years for long term investments irrecoverable in 30 years", a Sri Lanka Tourist Board official told the `Daily News' yesterday.

The mega development initiative, which is the second stage of the Bentota Holiday Resort development drive, envisages developing a Rs 600 million, 200 acre race course cum training centre for jockeys, a 380 acre golf course- the largest in the country-, an observatory tower with a restaurant and other facilities, eco-tourism and aqua- sports, lake based fishing pools and an amusement park on the Disneyland concept.

A floating restaurant is also on the cards since the Lake covers around 500 acres with a number of small islands. The area is also known for its large number of bird species with records indicating nearly 50 different varieties including exotic such as the Purple Rumped Sunbird and the Baya Weaver.

"We have completed the feasibility study and have already received a positive response for the development of the race course which will be a Australian-local collaboration", a senior official of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board said. A delegation of Malaysian investors has shown similar interest to develop ecotourism based activities.

According to him, there are six leading hotels in Bentota which is Sri Lanka's first beach resort area and site catering to the sun and sand seekers.

However, there is a huge potential for developing tourism focused on eco-tourism, water sports and other activities. "Bentota's image is based on the sun, sea and sand. The area is one of the country's most popular tourist locations but this geographical expanse can be further fostered through a mega-development project of this nature," he said.

According to the official, the land earmarked for the project has been hitherto abandoned. The development initiative has been introduced to bring in much needed economic incentives and generate employment opportunities.

The project will be developed in stages to ensure that development will be in accordance with the highest standards, giving due consideration for the expansion of infrastructure facilities and environmental concerns. Details of the project are available for potential investors, both local and foreign at the Sri Lanka Tourist Board's Planning and Development Division.

Korean air resumes freighter operations to Colombo

Korean Air has resumed its weekly cargo operations into Colombo with Boeing 747-400 freighters. Korean Air's outbound cargo consists mainly of garments to the USA and Canada, as well as general cargo to Korea and Tuna fish shipments to Japan. The freighter service originates from Incheon Seoul, Korea and arrives to Colombo via Singapore. The inbound cargo consists of fabric and accessories for the garment industry. Sensitive cargo such as radioactive material could also be carried which most other carriers do not carry into Colombo. Oversize bulk shipments such as telecommunication equipment are also among some of the products carried on the inbound flights.

Korean Air (the first airline to operate a regular freighter service to Colombo) has been operating weekly freighter service into Colombo since 1989 with some interruptions. During the period of suspension of freighter service, Korean Air's local agents in Colombo has been successful in securing Korean Air's share of the local cargo market by ensuring a smooth movement of air cargo at all times.

Korean Air a member of the Sky Team is the second largest cargo carrier in the world, with an all cargo fleet of 9 Boeing 747-400fs, 6 Boeing 747-200Fs and 4 MD 11Fs.

Korean Air is represented both for Cargo and Passenger by Alpha Tours Limited, their Sri Lankan General Sales Agents for the past 28 years. Alpha Tours office is located at the World Trade Centre, Colombo 1.

Hotel Corporation felicitates 54 best employees

Sri Lanka Hotel Corporation felicitated its 54 best employees at a ceremony held at the Ministry Auditorium recently. Addressing the gathering, Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge said that out of his personal experience he was satisfied with the catering standards and popularity of Sri Lanka Hotel Corporation Rest Houses islandwide.

They are manned by experts in the field of rest house keeping. If their standards and progress could be sustained, there is no need to privatize them, said the Minister. Corporation General Manager S.B. Wegodapitiya also spoke.

Here Minister Lokuge hands over a certificate to one of the best 54 employees.

Hotel Corporation Chairman Bodhi Ranasinghe and a host of corporation directors attended the occasion.

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Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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