Colombo, April 19 (Daily Mirror)- Steps are being taken to obtain the official certification of ‘Blue Flag Beaches’ for Unawatuna, Bentota, Pasikuda and Arugam Bay the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said.
This was revealed during a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development chaired by MP Ajith Mannapperuma.
It was revealed that twenty-eight beaches which have more tourist attraction have been selected for the ‘Blue Flag Beaches’ certification and that 33 criteria need to be fulfilled for this certification.
The Chairman pointed out that India, which started the initiative even after Sri Lanka, had already obtained ‘Blue Flag Beaches’ certification for eight beaches, whereas Sri Lanka is yet to commence the project which was initiated by him as the State Minister of Environment.
The Chairman stressed the need to expedite the project in coordination with the relevant institutions.
The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognized voluntary awards for beaches, marinas and sustainable tourism boats.
A few weeks ago, a line for direct flights to Sri Lanka began operating. The island nation located between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea and south of India, has become a very popular destination among Israeli tourists especially in recent years.
So what do you need to know if you are planning a trip with your surfboard and where are the small letters? Is Sri Lanka suitable only for young people or does it also have many attractions and activities for families? To answer these questions, we consulted the expert on tourism in Sri Lanka, Naa Aryeh, on behalf of the FLYEAST tourism group, and compiled everything you need to know about the magical country, just before you book your flight tickets.
How do you get there and what is the difference between the airlines?
As mentioned, direct flights using a chartered flight started recently, but there are several airlines that reach the destination, among them: Fly Dubai, Etihad, Gulf Air and Emirates. If you want to take the surfboard with you from home, you should pay attention to the differences between the companies which are very significant. The airlines in regards to transporting surfboards have different limitations such as different pricing on sizes.
So what are the surfing destinations in Sri Lanka?
Surfing on the island’s beaches is possible throughout the year, but you have to pay attention to the area you want to go to. The southwest coast is recommended in the months of March to November (when the east coast is in the heart of the monsoon season), while surfing on the east coast is recommended in the months of May to September, a period when it is not advisable to spend time on the other side of the island.
On the southeast coast, the town recommended for surfing and very popular among surfers and young people is Arugam Bay. This is a beach that is considered one of the most attractive places for surfing in the world with excellent weather, good waves, surf shops, hostels, restaurants and more. The town is about 350 kilometers from the airport but since the roads in Sri Lanka are not in ideal condition, the travel time is between 7 and 8 hours. To get to Arugam Bay you have to take a taxi or coordinate in advance with a driver who can also take the surfboard.
Not just surfing
Besides surfing, there are many attractions and activities that can also be done on a family trip to Sri Lanka: the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is suitable for a trip for the whole family and the children can also feed the elephants from a bottle. Sigiriya Rock Fortress offers a climb of 1,200 hatches where you can see murals on the way to the top and enjoy an amazing view of the landscape at the end.
It is also possible to take a tour to get to know the way of life of the locals in the Village tour in Hiriwadunna and there is also an option to taste the local food and take a boat trip to the area. Dambulla Caves (Dambulla Cave Temple) which is a beautiful complex declared as a UNESCO site where a large number of Buddha statues can be seen.
Minneriya National Park offers jeep safari tours where you can see a large number of species of elephants, birds and other animals. At the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, you can visit and see how the locals bring an offering to the Buddha.
Another interesting place is the botanical gardens (Royal Botanical Gardens Peradeniya) which contain about 5,000 different species of plants and trees. In the tea factory and plantation you can see the production processes and at the end of the visit you can taste different types of tea. Another fascinating attraction is a train ride to ELLA, to enjoy spectacular views on the way.
Another recommended trip is a trek in the Horton Plains (HORTON PLANE) of about 8 kilometers on a flat route where you can see waterfalls and reach a view point called the end of the world. It is also recommended to take a cruise on the Madu River between mangrove bushes and go to the Yala National Park, the most famous safari in Sri Lanka, where you can see elephants, tigers, wild boars and a wide variety of other animals.
Sail Sri Lanka http://www.sailsrilanka.com/ Introducing a New Regular ferry service Arugam-Basses-Bondives End up on the New “Foreigners Only” Island off Hambantot
unknown Islands of The Bondives. As from 1st April 2014, cruises leave Arugam Bay every Sunday to arrive at the vibrant port of Feemal on Monday afternoon. The Basses: Great Basses Reef Lighthouse is an offshore lighthouse in the south of Sri Lanka, and it is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Navy. It is located on a reef 13 km off the coast of Yala National Park, near Little Basses Reef Lighthouse. It is accessible only by boat. The two Basses lighthouses, ‘Great’ and ‘Little’, are among the most famous offshore lighthouses of Asia.
The reef is the site of the Great Basses wreck, an early 18th-century wreck of an Indian ship, carrying a treasureof silver rupees, that was discovered by Arthur C. Clarkeand Mike Wilson in 1961. Great diving opportunities exist here! ********************************************** Sail Onwards to:
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