Daily Mirror
By Cheranka Mendis
Sri Lanka, with the brand new ‘Small Miracle’ label, was set to take on the international market by storm. But it is now searching for a new concept to re-position itself. With the launch of the new programme on June 23 amidst all the pomp and blare at the BMICH, it has now been put on hold due to amendments set to be made to the tagline.
….Best land in Sri Lanka is the land stretching from Trincomalee to Arugambay….. Continue reading ‘‘A Small Miracle’: a concept gone wrong?’
July sixth 2009 saw the return of some great international surfing at Arugambay. The UK Pro Surfing Association’s Sri Lanka Surf
Andrew Foley @ Arugam Bay
Championships (UKPSA) was an event that showcased the surfing location to surfers from all over the world. ‘Hats off’ to the UK Pro Surf Organisation for their decision to hold the event in Arugambay, a decision based on the quality of the surf and the charm of the location. Arugambay was embedded in the memory of these surfing enthusiasts since their last visit and it was that memory that made them determined to get back there as soon as possible. Well done! There is talk of this surfing championship becoming an annual event.
A brief scan of some pro surfing websites indicate that Arugambay is fondly called ‘a-bay’ by the surfing community, and is reportedly one of the ten top surfing locations in the world with well documented 5 to 6 footer waves and a 400 metre ‘ride’. The relatively isolated rural location, balmy tropical weather, spectacular sunrises, great sea food and budget accommodation makes this place the free spirited surfers dream. Continue reading ‘Arugambay: One of the world’s Best Surf Beaches’
On the way to Okanda
Opportunists and the irreverent, gaudily-clad masses have replaced the revered swamis and authentic pilgrims of yesteryear who made the journey to Sri Lanka’s most famous shrine, says Patrick Harrigan
(July 24, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) There is a Sinhala saying about Kataragama-bound pilgrims that goes:
Dänagana giyot Kataragama, Nodäna giyot ataramaga.
Translated, it means: “If you know the way, you come to Kataragama; if you don’t know the way, you get completely lost.”
-
-
spotted nr. Arugam Bay bridge
-
-
On the way to Okanda
-
-
AbaY Outskirts. On the way to Okanda
-
-
Kataragama Pilgrims leaving Arugam Bay
Eastern Province travel pass
The compulsory security passes for the vehicles coming out of the Eastern Province due to security reasons have been relaxed, Police Headquarters announced last evening. Continue reading ‘No more Arugambay Pass ….’
23 July 2009 :: Anjika Sridhar
…..An area around Arugam Bay, near a 300-acre lagoon, along the eastern coast, would be a site for planned developments, possibly a move to attract surf tourism.……
Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay and the lagoon development’
Arugam Surfer learned to ride waves on his head.
Not down under – but in the United Kingdom.
Dulip Kokuhannadige stunned fellow surfers when he first mounted his board and performed a headstand while riding the waves.
Dulip grew up in a place called Arugam Bay, a surf hot spot which was by far the hardest hit place in Sri Lanka by the Tsunami. He lost everything and moved to England where he became a tourist attractiion in a British seaside town after learning to surf on his head.
The 22-year-old has since got the trick down to a fine art, and is now able to stay upside down on the board for 15 seconds at a time.
The Sri Lankan-born builder from Bournemouth, Dorset says he first attempted the stunt in his home country while teaching young people to surf in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.
“I lost everything in the tsunami but decided to volunteer and help others by teaching them how to surf during the bad times,” he said.
“One day I decided to do something different so tried a headstand on my board. I actually managed to stay up for a few seconds so kept practising.”
He continued to work on the act after he moved to Britain in 2005 and now spends most of his time in the sea surfing on his head.
“Now I can stay up for the duration of a good wave which can take me all the way onto the beach,” he said.
“When I am riding a wave my face doesn’t get too wet but when it breaks water does go up my nose.”
Mr Kokuhannadige has tried to teach his friends how to surf upside down but none of them have been able to do the stunt.
Fellow surfer Ross Broad, 19, said: “Most of us are just happy to stand on our boards for a few seconds let alone do it upside down.”
source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2680855/Surfer-learns-to-ride-waves-on-his-head.html
In the sixties, other than the Rest Houses in Hikkaduwa and Bentota, there were no hotels of any standard in Sri Lanka. The Confifi Beach Hotel was the first Star Resort Hotel in the West Coast in Beruwala, followed in 1972 by the Bentota Beach Hotel in Bentota and the Coral Gardens Hotel in Hikkaduwa. Continue reading ‘Tourism: Market Outlook’
The new management of Industrial Finance Ltd. will explore new opportunities in tourism in the North and East and venture in to many other projects in micro-finance.
Upul De Zoysa |
“We focused on the stable background of the company before acquiring it. Since 1962, Industrial Finance Ltd has been engaged in the business and it has an asset base of Rs. 2 billion. We felt that acquiring an old company might have a penetrative effect than a new company. Hence, we wanted to capitalize on Industrial Finance Ltd,” Chairman of Industrial Finance Ltd, Upul De Zoysa told Daily News Business.
During a recession, the confidence of customers on finance companies erodes but Industrial Finance Ltd. will work with the Central Bank and create an awareness among the public to invest in regulated bodies. The confidence on finance companies should be ensured by the Central Bank. As a finance company we will advise the public to invest only in registered finance companies, he said.
Industrial Finance Ltd. looks forward to investments in micro-finance, tourism and the pawning sector.
Tourism is the newest sector since we have substantial lands in Arugam Bay in the North-East and Bolgoda in the Western Province. Continue reading ‘A self-contained village in Arugam Bay’
Charumini DE SILVA
PJ Hotels (Pvt) Ltd., will develop a range of hotels and will open four seven star hotels under the brand name ‘Our Way’. Most of the investors are Asians and mainly Indians and Chinese investors will contribute, since they are in the region, as they understand the necessity.
 |
|
Prasanna
W. Jayawardene
|
“The investment of these hotels is nearly US$ five billion. Through the development of these hotels the GDP and per capita income will grow substantially. The company will open a hotel with 1,000 rooms in Mannar under the tagline ‘Northshore Icon’.
These hotels will be constructed with an eco-friendly method and construction work will commence in the next four years.
The target market for the range of hotels is mainly Asians as they have shown a huge interest in exploring Sri Lanka”, said Chairman, PJ Hotels (Pvt) Ltd., Prasanna W. Jayewardene.
Asia has half of the world’s population and it has the fastest growing economies. This population is keen on travelling around the world and Sri Lanka has the potential of attracting more tourists to the country with the dawn of peace.
Sri Lanka as a tourist destination has great potential among investors who are eager to invest in the Northern and Eastern provinces. The coastal lines in these areas are very attractive, as it has not been affected due to the war, which drove the country backwards for three decades.
“There are possibilities of developing games since tourists will arrive and be a part of it while travelling around the country. The surfing beach in Arugam Bay will capture the attention of many local and foreign tourists. In addition these activities will contribute to increase foreign exchange earnings”, he said. Continue reading ‘7 ******* for AbaY?’
The British government has expressed support for the efforts to resettle displaced and the development in Sri Lanka’s north and east. 
Arugam Forum
Arugam Photo Galleries on Picasa
Old Website
Press Coverage
Surf Forecast for Arugam Bay
ALIYA Wildlife Project
TODAY’s Comments