Archive for the 'the bay' Category

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2007 Capture Competition

Published on 16/12/2007 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, front page, Ideas, Money Matters and the bay. 10 Comments

The grand Arugam Bay Order zenegra photo Competition price of 2007 remains unclaimed!
Even a regular visitor to the Bay, having won 2 weeks Free B&B for two in an a/c suite, did not visit the Bay this year. It has never been as quiet as this before!
Order lisinopril hydrochlorothiazide AbHa has decided to extent the offer to redeem for one further year, hoping to welcome brilliant photographer Mr. Philip sometime in 2008.

How about a capture contest?
Below are a few amateur shots, all taken around the same location.
During the past 3 years.

AbHa, trying hard to attract tourists thinks the few photos sum up the “progress” of the past three years rather well, without many words. And show the conflict of interests in the Bay these days.
The winner of the most apt, funny or fitting capture will win a chance to run up and down Arugam Bay beach (just 2km) and try to match the amount of vessels with the slogans painted upon them.
At our expense.
Simply click “Comments” and let us hear your suggestion.

2004 View to Beach

December 2004; a Natural Event

Clean Arugam Bay April 2005

April, 2005. A fine balance is still in place

Outlook 2005

2005: Is this what tourists come to the Bay for?

Outlook Dec. 2007: After NGO

YOUR Suggestions Please!

Boats?

Published on 15/12/2007 in From our own Correspondent, front page, Money Matters and the bay. 0 Comments

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Sami and Mere at Arugam Bay

Published on 12/12/2007 in Blogs, press coverage and the bay. 1 Comment

Landing in Lanka

They say Sri Lanka is a jewel of an island, filled with smiling people and breath taking nature. From our experiences of the past few days, we are pleased to report that they are not wrong.After arriving at the ungodly hour of 5am, and, eventually, amongst a mountain of luggage, seeing our backpacks sheepishly appear on the luggage belt, we made the hour long journey into Colombo. Once there, we went to our friend Dixie’s house, one highly neat dood. Brilliant photographer. UN worker. Inspiring conversationalist. At Casa de Dixie we caught up on old times as well as much needed sleep. We also met some other super nice UN and NGO people, whom we played water polo with at one of the snazziest hotels in the country, The Blue Water.

Then, in the bumpy backseat of a genuine white UN 4×4, we had a thrilling ride across the entire breadth of the country, along some tear jerking vistas and sheer drops on the winding highland roads. After some 10 hours we ended up at the secluded Surf gem of Arugam Bay. There, in our hammocks, we chilled for a few days at a fantastic beach front surf place, the Galaxy Lounge, complete with delicious food and plentiful beers.

As a whole, Sri Lanka is full of vibrant, happy, polite people, who are keen to introduce themselves and to learn more about other cultures. Without fail, this has been the case for everyone – whether Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim or other.

Despite a sad collapse of the cease fire and a tragic return to what can only be described as full out civil war, the country feels strangely safe for foreign travellers. In fact, from what we’ve been told so far, the biggest threat are the many super duper poisonous snakes. Eeek. They are presumably waiting for Sami to wander into the tall grass for a drunken late night piss. So far we’ve only seen one King Cobra, but it was far scarier that any high security zone, military checkpoint or Kalashnikov wielding camouflage soldier.

Tomorrow we’re accompanying our buddies on a second UN mission, this time a trip to document a much needed road project that connects remote villages in the dense East Sri Lankan jungle.

In the next few days we’ll probably be back on the South Western Coast, the epicentre of unashamed decadence and worryfree holiday drinking. No doubt, having had this unusual priviledge of seeing the hidden eastern areas of Sri Lanka will certainly make our relaxing even nicer. We can only hope that one day this country will see peace again and that this gem of an island will get what it deserves.

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Sinking Ship

Published on 12/12/2007 in From our own Correspondent, front page and the bay. 4 Comments

Don’t worry! This is nothing political, military or New!
The first part of this story relates to the greatest attraction the East Coast has to offer, to any diver.
HMS Hermes Airphoto by japanese pilot

Just North of Generic diovan hct availability Arugam Bay Is there a generic for lamictal the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes lies in fairly shallow waters. Sunk by Japanese Aircraft at the end of WW2. The carrier was on its way from Trincomalle harbour to Male, Maldives.
A full dive report has already been published on this site; use the search function if you are interested in details.

HMS Hermes sinking off Sri Lanka Coast

The Hermes was once a fine ship.

Hermes Aircraft Carrier in Action

Very much like some good Hotels and Restaurants on the East Coast once were.

Whatever sealed the fate of HMS Hermes 65 years ago has a certain resemblance to the slow death of the entire Hotel industry. Their boats started to sink when a big wave hit them, in 2004. Plenty of help was promised, from all sides – but nothing substantial ever came along to rescue them.
A combination of civil unrest in other parts of the Nation, incompetence by visiting NGO’s and a total lack of finances have resulted in closure of most establishments which managed to stay afloat.

One leading hotelier describes the situation as such:

Ever since 2004 we feel like sitting in a boat, full of holes.
We kept ourselves busy plugging them by whatever means we have – but scooping out the water to stay afloat has been a hard job, left on our own devices.

….to be continued

Arugam on Wikipedia

Published on 11/12/2007 in Money Matters, press coverage and the bay. 0 Comments

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Arugam Bay Impressions

Published on 03/12/2007 in Blogs, people, press coverage, presse-deutsch, surf, the bay and weddings. 0 Comments
Arugam als Erlebnis
Here is an article received from our good friends and strong AbaY supporters in Germany.
www.sri-lanka-board.de

Ich mA?A?chte hier die MA?A?glichkeit nutzen, Euch die wunderschA?A?ne OstkA?A?ste ein wenig nA?A?her zu bringen.

Der vom Tourismus weitgehend erschlossene Westen des Landes ist sicher vielen Lesern bekannt, jedoch landschaftlich ebenso anders , wie auch in der Tierwelt.

Man findet endlose , saubere StrA?A?nde, die zum Baden und Surfen einladen.


Begegnungen ? NatA?A?rlich, wenn man denn mag. 😉

Oft sieht man Fischer, die ihre Netze einholen oder diese reparieren.


Kinder von Fischern, die es den Alten nach machen und selbst schon handeln wollen, sind ebenfalls A?A?ber Kontakte erfreut.

Niemand stA?A?rt sich an einem netten Plausch und man ist herzlich willkommen. Nach erledigter Arbeit wird dann gemeinsam der Fang bewundert und eine Zigarette rundet den Tag ab.

Am Strand entlang findet man ungeahnte SehenswA?A?rdigkeiten, Purchase generic valtrex online die oftmals nur den Locals bekannt sind, wie z.B. der Elefantenfelsen oder der Crocodilsrock….

In der HA?A?hle des Crocodilrocks (unteres Bild) lebte z.B. monatelang ein tamilischer FlA?A?chtling auf der Flucht. A?A?ber diese Geschichte schrieb die Autorin Claudia Ackermann das Buch “Der Krokodilfelsen”.

Aber, es gibt nicht nur Strand und Meer………

Eine wundervolle Flora und Fauna begrA?A?sst GA?A?ste mit offnenen Armen und wer sich ein wenig Zeit nimmt, diese Ruhe und den Augenblick zu geniessen, wird es nicht bereuen.

Man kann sich A?A?ber wilde Elefanten, die in Ruhe auf einer Lichtung grasen,

…wilde Pfauen, die teilweise den Wegesrand sA?A?umen und die Ruhe selbst sind……..

…und Begegnungen zu Menschen aller Art freuen.

Mag jemand die Kultur des Landes abseits des Tourismus erleben ? Auch Dieses ist natA?A?rlich machbar und wir selbst waren erstaunt, wie wunderschA?A?n verborgen einige Dinge im Dschungel sind.
Ein Beispiel dafA?A?r ist eine der A?A?ltesten Tempelruinen Asiens in Lahugalla selbst.






Weiter Abseits der StrA?A?nde und der normalen Strassen kann man bei Interesse eine wunderschA?A?ne Felsenformation besuchen, auf dem vor vielen Jahrhunderten eine Tempelanlage geschaffen Amantadine price us wurde. Dort leben heute noch MA?A?nche, die in Meditation und Gebete versunken den Tag in aller Abgeschiedenheit verbringen. Eine EindrA?A?cke sollen Euch untere Bilder davon geben.


Auf folgendem Bild sieht man, wie A?A?ber das Dach oben aus der normalen Felsenformation entstanden ist. Die Unterkunft des MA?A?nches ist somit auch von der Natur vorgegeben.

In diese Gegend verlaufen sich sehr selten Toristen und so war der MA?A?nch doch ein dankbar fA?A?r ein wenig Abwechslung im Alltag und gerne zu einem GesprA?A?ch bereit.

Die eigentliche Tempelanlage jedoch ist so gross, dass man dort Stunden verbringen kA?A?nnte. Wir zogen es vor, den MA?A?nchen ihre Ruhe zu lassen und verabschiedeten uns dankbar.

An dieser Stelle mA?A?chte ich fA?A?r Interessenten auf folgendes Buch hinweisen:

” Wie ein Fremder im Paradies” von Florian Palzinsky. Florian lebte in diesem Tempel lange Zeit als buddhistischer MA?A?nch und seine ErzA?A?hlungen in diesem Buch, seine Erfahrungen mit dem Land Sri Lanka sind wirklich eindrucksvoll.

Aber, man findet entlang der OstkA?A?ste an vielen Stellen diverse Felsformationen, auf denen kleinere Tempel errichtet wurden………


Ich denke, Ihr habt nun zumindest einen kleinen Eindruck von dieser wundervollen Gegend bekommen und mein Beitrag langweilte Euch nicht zu sehr. Es wA?A?rde mich freuen, ein wenig Begeisterung und Neugier in Euch geweckt zu haben und verbleibe mit lieben GrA?A?ssen,

HA?A?nschen.

P.S.: Wer Interesse an mehr Infos dazu haben mA?A?chte, kann gerne folgenden Link dazu nutzen.

www.sri-lanka-board.de
https://www.arugam.info/

Rasta Hut at Arugambay

Published on 02/12/2007 in Blogs, press coverage and the bay. 4 Comments

Rastha hutA?A?Arugambay!!!

The RasthaA?A?hut

Ask me what was the most awesome thing about my trip to Arugambay this time;

  1. the bus ride – which was truly an experiance!!!
  2. The company :-) excelent!!
  3. MambosA?a??a?? rastha hut!!

As weA?A?trudged all across the bay with all our bagage heavy from the 12 hour ride across the country ..looking for the perfect place to stay was tiring the price needed to be right as there was no way we could go back for cash as the closest ATM was 3 hours away!!

so we walked & walked until right at the end a familiar voice holloredA?a??A? Mambo!! & the gang such a supprise to see them so far away but hell guess he was as shocked to & happy to see us that he gave us the most awesome room in the house the Rastha hut complete with a well & your own peice of the beach (Where we did most of the skinny dipping by moonlight he he)A?a??A?

Anyways I have much more to write on Arugambay but I have no clue where to start the place is simply a trip & as I always say A?a??A? One day .. One day I will come back to Arugambay & never leave :-)

~ by beachbumm on November 30, 2007.

One Response to A?a??A?Rastha hutA?A?Arugambay!!!A?a??A?

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Arugam Bay is a surf spot

Published on 30/11/2007 in Blogs, press coverage, surf and the bay. 0 Comments

Arugam Bay the Surfers paradise

November 30, 2007 A?a??a?? 11:47 am Arugam Bay is located in the East cost of Sri Lanka, the unspoiled beautiful beach is a must visit place. Arugam Bay is with an easy reach of the town Pottuvil and you can visit many interesting and beautiful places like Yala, Kataragama, Lahugala National Park and superb kovils at Oganda as well.

Arugam Bay is among the worldA?a??a??s top ten surfing locations. The people in the area have developed tourism by their own there are no larger hotels, most of the hotels are stilt cabins and coconut palm leaf cabins. Near by village abundant bird life and the archeological sites have made Arugam Bay a destination like no other. No wonder Arugam Bay awarding the highly commended Best Destination by the World Travel Market Responsible Tourism Awards Ceremony which was held in London on the 14 th of November among other thousands of nominees.
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A long lost article has resurfaced

Published on 28/11/2007 in Money Matters, people, press coverage, services and the bay. 0 Comments

Sunday Times – Sri Lanka 2005 January 9th – Plus – Page 5

Once Sri Lanka’s surf paradise,
Arugam Bay offers only rubble and mass graves after the tsunami

     

Lost to the sea

By Kavan Ratnatunga
Arugam Bay on the south-east coast of Lanka is surf paradise. Many travel there directly from the airport ignoring the country?smany other attractions. In the aftermath of the tsunami, on December 30, I joined Lt.Col. Anil Amerasekara, Daya Fernando who had a beach house in Arugam Bay and Lalith Karunaratna who is an engineer from Sony in Dubai to deliver relief aid from the Thawalama organisation to Pottuvil and Arugam Bay.

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Driving south to Lahugala, we passed many aid trucks on the road each with a large white banner in front proclaiming the name of the organization. An idea probably started by aid sent by one TV station and copied by many. I was glad our vehicle had no banner, there was no need for self-publicity at this time. Lahugala near the STF camp was crammed with trucks. There were far more items than could be stored for distribution to the victims. All possible rooms which had any storage space were piled to the ceiling. One needed to “know someone” to get any aid stored under cover. Dry rations unloaded next to the road were soaking in the rain for lack of covered space.

We dropped off all of the relief supplies at the local administration office at Lahugala which agreed to distribute them to the tsunami victims when needed over the next few weeks.

Driving east to Pottuvil, we passed beautiful green paddy-fields and then saw the Pottuvil to Arugam Bay bridge in the distant horizon. Half of the bridge had been washed away and the other half stood ending in midair. The surroundings abruptly changed to a barren land washed away by the tsunami.The town was a huge mess, though in the process of being cleaned. Earth moving plows were hard at work. All of the shops near the coast had been washed away leaving empty shells. The dead had been buried in mass graves. We were told that some of the foreigners had been photographed before burial and sites recorded, but I suspect this was not done systematically.

It was amazing to see the Buddha statue next to the bridge absolutely undamaged. Even the plate glass in front of it and the Bodhi tree near it were unscathed, even though there was much destruction to the Pottuvil village behind it and the distant half of the large bridge was completely destroyed and washed away.
arugambay_dog.jpg


 We went by boat under the bridge and across the causeway, to get to Arugam Bay. Walking onto devastated land was an eerie feeling. The residents had all left leaving a ghost town behind. A stray dog was looking for lunch. Items that had floated in had landed in unexpected places. There were beds from guest-houses next to smashed up cars and boats.

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 Suddenly we came up to a large sign which read “Tsunami Beach Hotel Restaurant” below a painted tidal wave. We had clearly reached surf paradise, but sadly it had been an untimely death for many from surfing a tsunami.
 

The Bank of Ceylon next to the Pizzeria, Bier Garten and Internet Cafe were reminders of the rich international culture in Arugam Bay. A laptop could be seen open on the ground where the receding wave had left it. An album of photographs showed glimpses of a happier past.

arugambay_cafe.jpg
After about a two km walk in the light rain through the devastated land we reached Daya’s partly destroyed beach house. The front door and half the kitchen had been washed away. The first wave had struck about 9 a.m. and the second which was much stronger soon after. It had gone over the electricity posts which are probably around 25 feet high. The two caretakers had luckily lived through the ordeal with the tourists who had been in residence. They were able to swim as a small group and ride out the wave.

They told the story of the night before the tsunami when a wild elephant had come to the back of the hotel and refused to go away, even when chased. The caretakers are now convinced the elephant was trying to warn them of the tsunami.


Piles and Piles:Donations in abundance

See also Unawatuna – Fallen and Reclaimed by Nature

Author is Seretary of LAcNet a US Non-profit organization registered in 1991 which is collecting funds for Tsunami relief in Lanka as highlighted in LAcNet web page http://www.theacademic.org/tsunami/This text is a copy of Lost to the sea By Kavan Ratnatunga which appeared in the SundayTimes of Sri Lanka on 2005 Junuary 9th. The eEdition online doesn’t have the illustrations of the printed copy. I have also added above a few more illustrations to middle of article which seems to have been cut out to make room for a large advertisment.In my original more candid Blog I wrote for distribution among friends I did comment about the Buddha Statue as a Physicist: Many such selective observations from many parts of Lanka hit by the Tsunami are being explained not by Statistical Physics of Turbulent Motion, but the laws of Karma. I guess the editors of the SundayTimes wanted to save me from any bad Karma.

1600 Ship Wrecks between Arugambay and Galle

Published on 25/11/2007 in press coverage, surf, the bay and wild life. 0 Comments

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Hidden Treasure
25 November:34:06
By Gayan Ratnayake

Sri Lanka a treasure trove of unexplored maritime history: archaeologists

Nov 25, 2007 (LBO) A?a??a?? Archaeologists working on a Dutch colonial era shipwreck in Sri Lanka’s southern Galle port say 12 more wrecks lie submerged, awaiting excavation and cataloging as historical treasure.

“There are 27 sites which contain 12 shipwrecks in the Galle port,” Rasika Muthucumarana, archeologist from the maritime archeology unit in Galle, told LBO.

The maritime archeological team who worked on the Dutch wreck, the Avondster, has already started work on excavating a wooden ship and a steel steam ship in the bay.

Muthucumarana says the archaeology unit excavates and conserves the artifacts but the wreck will be left underwater as breeding grounds for fish and corrals.

It is also expensive and time consuming to collect pieces of wrecks and assemble them on dry land, Muthucumarana said.

The ships lying underwater were used by merchants to transport goods and some of the wrecks date back to the 13th century.

The recently excavated Avondster, which belonged to the Dutch East India Trading company, was wrecked in 1659 when her anchor slipped and the ship ran aground.

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The Avondster was excavated for four years from 2001 where the team recovered 2,000 artefacts. But the 2004 tsunami swept away around 70 percent of the collection, Muthucumarana says.

The excavation was financed by the government of Netherlands which gave 700 million rupees to Sri Lanka to initiate development and conservation projects on heritage sites in the southern region from 2006 to 2009.

One of the main goals of the excavation was to build capacity of Sri Lankan archaeologists and conservators to continue a permanent archaeology program in the island, says Senerath Dissanayake, director general of the department of archaeology.

Furthermore, the projects focus on developing cultural tourism activities that would help the local economy of the region through more employment opportunities.

At present, the Dutch funded development projects are focused on restoring the colonial-era forts in Galle, Matara and Katuwana, and the Kataragama temple.

An ancient Dutch warehouse within the Galle fort is being restored to be used as a maritime museum and a visitor centre.

Unconfirmed reports say that over 1,600 shipwrecks lie along the coastline of Sri Lanka from Colombo to Pottuvil in the eastern coast, that have not been excavated due to financial and other difficulties.

In Galle, of the dozen sunken ships in the harbour, six ships belonged to the East India Trading company.

The Galle Port

The Galle bay was used from the pre Christian times as a natural harbor in the southern region but gained importance after the 12th century.

Several stone anchors of Indo-Arabian origin have also been discovered, one weighing almost a ton made of stone probably from Oman, and with a wooden anchor stock around five hundred years old.

Excavated stone anchor

Another anchor has been found of Mediterranean origin, similar to those used in Roman times.

A celadon bowl which was named after its tint of green (celadon) is one of the few relics found, relating to the early trade with China’s Southern Song dynasty (13th century). But the famous blue-and-white Chinese ware is found in abundance.
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=717462877&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=12

Green Lung of Asia

Published on 22/11/2007 in From our own Correspondent, front page, Ideas, Money Matters, people, press coverage, the bay and tuk tuk. 0 Comments

The responsible world begins to take global warming serious.
And Sri Lanka is planning to point out its unique ecological position.
The island Nation, it is said, has NO Co2 emission at all.
Indeed, our green Island produces more Oxygen than its own emission of harmful gasses.
Arugam.info is informed that if this claim is proven to be correct, it will form the back bone of the entire future strategy of the Tourist Board.

In Arugam Bay we are blessed with no sea pollution at all.
That’s obvious, as we clearly have no industry or sewage which could ever spoil the quality of our blue waters.

Due to foreseeable energy shortages a few fossil fuel power stations are under construction in places like Trincomalee. The government might be forgiven to seek quick fix solutions; Ministers are busy with more pressing tasks.

Arugam.info however feels that wise and western NGO’s should have played a better role in using their huge financial muscle to influence policy and educate our small developing Nation.
Starting by giving a good example, for example?
In the case of Arugam Bay the exact opposite has happened!
Still, there is not a single solar panel around, there still are no windmills on any of our windswept beaches or hills, no renewable energy sources qualified for funding, there hasn’t even been a single low energy bulb donated (or used in NGO’s offices!!).
Instead, guys like Mercy Corps donated:
1.) Two stroke Mopeds (instead of electric ones, available for the same price)
2.) Compressor fridges and freezers (instead of LPG or inverter or heat pump systems)
3.) Two stoke 3-wheelers (outlawed in most Nations, the 4 Stroke BajajA?A? was available)
4.) Electric water heaters are said to be donated and installed in small restaurants
5.) Noise & beach polluting boats and Suzuki Kerosine engines
6.) Obscure Las Vegas Style light chains for visiting TV stunts like O.W. “Lights of Hope”
…….and many more energy consuming gimmicks were dished out in true US style, just to obtain a good photo for the distant donors and for the flash M/C newsletter.
Buy tadacip from india Arugam.info at the time tried to help organizations such as Mercy Corps and The Angel Network to see the light of the future and use chances a remote enclave like the Bay offered to them and their long-term plans.
Our help was refused – and our own bed sheet poster, at the time: “No light – No hope” was of course totally ignored. Although much more appropriate, as NONE of the great Mercy Corpse funded ‘projects’ survived the first year of ‘operation.
Indeed, some dismissed and jobless staff had to be drafted in for the follow-on Oprah show to state “how much the US guys have changed our lives” and so on.
Five minutes after the TV guys left – the local girls of the tailor shopA?A? were without any job again, until this very day…A great deception some would call it.

It is with regret and great sadness that with all the huge sums collected, and the wisdom the rest of the world possesses regarding the future of our GREEN planet that we seem unable to begin to make realistic changes in a greenfield micro location such as Arugam Bay.
We (the NGO’s) had the cash, we had the knowledge and wisdom – and still the end effect has been totally negative.
We even damaged our own environment more than before 2004.
We had a great chance to build a better place, but it was totally missed.
At least ever since the arrival of ‘expert’ men and women from overseas.
Online prescription for cymbalta And thanks to Mercy Corps to change lives in Arugam Bay!
(Closing words of Ms. Whinfrey in her show on Arugam Bay)

Arugam Bay hits the top as a A?a??E?Best DestinationA?a??a??

Published on 21/11/2007 in Blogs, Money Matters, press coverage and the bay. 0 Comments

Arugam Bay

At a packed hall of enthusiastic tourism crowds, the World Travel Market Responsible Tourism Awards Ceremony took place at Excel in Docklands London on the 14th November 2007 and Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka was awarded the A?a??E?Highly Commended Best DestinationA?a??a?? award. This recognition no doubt is a tremendous boost and an instrument for the revival and development of tourism in Arugam Bay and also adds a high profile for Sri LankaA?a??a??s tourism. There will no doubt be immeasurable publicity generated reaching the tourism industry and consumer media worldwide and this will certainly contribute towards image building of Sri Lanka as a responsible and sustainable tourism destination.

The World Travel Market (WTM) is the premier trade fair in the travel and tourism industry and draws a huge number of top executives, service providers, buyers and government tourism officials every year in November to London. Approximately 5,500 buyers and suppliers representing 202 countries and territories attend the WTM. The World Travel MarketA?a??a??s World Responsible Tourism Day was sponsored by the Virgin Holidays and held in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Fiona Jeffrey, Chairperson of the World Travel Market at the opening ceremony said A?a??A?WTM World Responsible Tourism Day on 14th November is the day that the aimless talking had to stop and the action began. For the first time ever we will bring the entire planet and the travel and tourism industry together in a way that has never been previously done.A?a??A?

Responsible Tourism Partnership, also a WTM World Responsible Tourism Day accredited logo user for the work its doing in the Responsible Tourism sector, says that it is delighted to have been able to assist Arugam Bay to receive this very important international tourism accolade and also recognize the work of several NGOs and organizations such as Sewalanka Foundation , Arugam Bay Tourism Association and ICEI in Arugam Bay who have been actively working rebuilding livelihoods promoting community tourism efforts. There is tremendous international interest currently in green and responsible tourism, this is strongly seen not only from the consumer side but also from the travel and tourism industry side and this international award for Arugam Bay will open the eyes of the tourism policy makers and the tourism industry to advance in sustainable tourism development.

Arugam Bay is classed among the top ten surf destinations in the world and there is so much more. The village itself is a delightful experience, there are no big hotel chains there and the community has developed tourism with their own hard work and imagination. Three star establishments rub shoulders with low-key stilt cabins and coconut palm leaf cabanas, and tourists share the beach with local fishermen. The wild and rugged scenery, elephants browsing at the edge of the village, abundant birdlife, and mysterious archaeological sites have made this a long time favourite destination for travellers.

The three ethnic groups ( Buy tadacip from india Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims) work and live in harmony. The population is 3,000 families and tourism establishments consist mostly of small family managed hotels/guesthouses and restaurants.

The community wants community-based tourism and feel that what makes Arugam Bay attractive is the community involvement and it should not be made a mass tourism destination. In Arugam Bay, tourism not only brings money, but it also creates a vehicle for peace for three ethnic groups to work and live in harmony. Community wants to link with government and protect the lifeline to the community and create a different model for Sri Lanka Tourism. The community is not against development but demands that it should benefit the community and not keep them away and only involve outsiders. The success will be when the experiences achieved by the community are used for future development.

http://lankapage.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-arugam-bay-hits-the
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Verugal, the new tourism site in the East

Published on 11/11/2007 in Blogs, press coverage, stop over Ideas and the bay. 0 Comments
The thirty year old war waged by the LTTE had been a major obstacle to the development of the Eastern province. This is the reality that confronts anyone visiting the region.

Agriculture and fisheries are the two main livelihood activities of the people. However, the region is also rich in other resources as well, waiting to be made use of to launch industrialization to generate employment and alternative sources of income to the people.

Trincomalee with an area of 2727 square kilometers, has one of the best beaches in the world, extending over a distance of 80 kilometers. The natural harbour, hot water springs, Koneswarar Rock, Kodiyar Gulf, Arugam Bay which is world famous for wind surfing, Pasikuda, Nilaweli beach, the Kumana Bird Sanctuary – one could go on and on enumerating the attractions of this region. This region had been a tourism venue which suffered due to the war.

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Despite the many tourist attractions the Trincomalee region offered, it could be seen that sustained efforts under a master plan for investment had not been launched. After the East was cleared of LTTE terrorists under the governmentA?a??a??s on-going humanitarian operations to restore normal life to the people of the East, it is heartening to note that the authorities are now drawing up plans to exploit the inherent potential of the East.

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A SCOPP team which visited Trincomalee and its environs recently to assess the humanitarian needs of the people was able to find many areas that could be turned into veritable local and foreign tourist destinations.

Of particular interest is the coastal village of Verugal. Divisional Secretary Uma Maheswaran told us that around 3,000 people had been displaced by the war from Verugal. The government has now resettled most of them and the process is due to be completed by the end of this month. He said that around 1,000 houses in the village were damaged and temporary shelters have been provided to the resettled families complete with basic amenities. Buried mines are a major problem and Mr.Maheswaran said that they hoped to complete the de-mining operations by October this year.

The Verugal beach defies description due to its breathtaking beauty. It could somewhat be compared with the famous Marina Beach in Chennia, India.

The LTTE had their Voice of Tigers clandestine radio station located at Verugal straddling a Stupa. The Security Forces eliminated the Tiger presence during their humanitarian operation. However, stone inscriptions found at the temple remain intact. There are also several caves around the stupa.

It has been said that the famous Indian Emperor Raja Raja Chola was hidden in Sri Lanka until he could claim his kingdom. According to some historical sources, Buddhist monks trained him and prepared him to ascend the throne. Tamil Buddhists are said to have lived in the Eastern province in large numbers and it could be assumed that they helped in conserving the Buddhist places of worship found in this region.

Fishing is the main livelihood activity of these people and coupled with tourism, it could be transformed into a potent force with beneficial effects on the people who had suffered the ravages of war and terrorism.

Improved transport facilities would be available to the region when the government completes the Pulmodai – Verugal highway project linked to the main Trincomalee-Batticaloa highway.

The 700-million rupee China Bay – Kinniya Bridge, the Thambalgamam main road, the 50-million rupee Yan Oya – Pudawaikattu – Pulmodai highway as well as the Polonnaruwa – Trincomalee highway would underpin major tourism development initiatives in the East.

In Batticaloa, there is a boat building yard at Ondachchi within the Kaluwanchikudy Divisional Secretarial area, operated by the Sri Lanka Solidarity Organization. 90 per cent of the employees at this facility are women, including widows – all of them found living below the poverty line. A similar facility could be set up in Verugal where once the fishing industry thrived. Educated youths, both male and female, could be found in significant numbers in Verugal. The SCOPP team found about 100 widows in this village. All of them were eager to earn a living through hard work. This desire could be tapped to advantage by setting up a boat yard and also an institution to teach them deep sea fishing. Empowering women in this area would serve as a bulwark against terrorism and any future subversive activity.

A different kind of displacement had also taken place due to the war – a large number of unclaimed cattle and buffaloes have made Verugal their home. The government is currently engaged in efforts to bring these animals together and a committee has been appointed for this task. These livestock could form the nucleus of a cottage dairy industry of women, providing nutrition and also an avenue of income.

The beaches in the East are rich in mineral sands and shells. They could be used as inputs for industries producing bulbs, insulators, glass, ceramics and also cement. Regional small industries based on the resources could be set up under the Eastern Revival programme of the Government.

The Ministry of Investment Promotion has said that the sea areas in the East would be transformed into tourist zone under the accelerated 180 day plans for Eastern Revival. There are also moves to attract large scale investment, for local and foreign, to help sustain development of the East. The Director General of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has announced new incentives and tax concessions to encourage investments in the Eastern province.

The people of the East have now been freed from the clutches of the LTTE, enabling them live their lives as they please without obeying the dictates of unscrupulous elements. Already, a transformation could be seen taking place in the East with several development projects being launched in the region. Some activity is short term with immediate benefits while others are long terms plans conceived and implemented with the future generations in mind. It is the Tamil speaking people of the East who will be the immediate beneficiaries of these activities.

source:
http://lrrp.wordpress.com/2007/11/10/verugal-the-new-tourism-site-in-the-east/

AbaY Eco – Guides at WTM

Published on 11/11/2007 in Money Matters, press coverage and the bay. 0 Comments

A three member delegation from the ‘Community Based Eco-Guide Association’ (CEGA) of Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka will be in London to participate at this year’s World Travel Market to be held at ExCel from November 12 to 17. They will be joining the Sri Lanka delegation under the theme of ‘sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka’, which is a part of the current theme of WTM. ‘Green Globe’ is the main theme of WTM this year.

The launch of ‘Community Based Eco-Guide Association’ (CEGA) ,CEGA website and their marketing programmes was held in Colombo recently under the giudence of Sri Lanka Tourism Authority and Chairman Renton de Alwis. The launching ceremony was held at the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, Hotel School.

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The launching of CEGA, its web site and marketing programmes are a turning point of Arugam Bay Tourism history, as CEGA is the pioneer model Community Based Tourism Project to be developed and launch in Arugam Bay in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. The CEGA has been formed in to 13 Eco-Guide Members and 15 other community based organizations and cooperatives based in Pottuvil, during a Community-Based Ecotourism Project implemented by the Institute for International Economic Cooperation (ICEI) in partnership with Sewa Lanka Foundation and funded by Italian Cooperation and Regione Lombardia. Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation is responsible in training of CEGA guides and promoting marketing in CEGA tourism projects based in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka.

Welcoming the Special Guests to the occasion, Giuseppe Busalacchi, Project Leader, ICEI, stated that the Vision of ICEI is to promote income-generating activities related to community-based tourism for the sustainable development of local communities through environmental conservation and the enhancement of cultural heritage. He further said, the specific Objectives of ICEI of the Arugam Bay Community Based Ecotourism Project is to promote a community based eco-tourism, in a participatory approach, able to value community local culture, to ensure environmental sustainability and to generate and distribute benefit fairly among the community members, in Arugam Bay-Pottuvil Division-of Ampara District.

Addressing the event, the Chief Guest, Renton de Alwis, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourist Board, remarked, ‘I must thank SLEF, Sewalanka Foundation and ICEI for developing a model Community Based Ecotourism Project in Arugam Bay, the eastern province of Sri Lanka, which some of us failed to do that on our own. It is important to note that not the community can benefit from tourism but how tourism could benefit from community. It’s really a philosophy. In any sense, good tourism must be sustainable, what ever we do in tourism, it should be sustainable. He noted the promoters of the CEGA Project have given the nets for the community but not the fish. He noted the programme for the tourism promotion in the east is two fold. Apart from the hotel property promotions in the east the Sri Lanka Tourist Board is very much interested in promoting ‘home stays’ that perfectly fit with the community based tourism concepts.’

Presenting the CEGA Marketing Programme, Palitha Gurusinghe, President, Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) and the Coordinator, Advisory Panel of the Community Based Tourism appointed by the Ministry of Tourism said ‘ Today, Community Based Tourism is one of the well debated topics. The Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation which pioneered this concept in its real perspective, promoted the same as the main component of ecotourism since 1998. We are happy to note that SLEF has gone so far to date, in promoting and developing not only the concept but ‘real’ community based ecotourism enterprises’ (CBEs) in Sri Lanka. He further observed ‘I am very happy to note the Minister of Tourism has appointed an ‘Advisory Panel to look in to the CBO projects in Sri Lanka, which are on going and future potential projects as well’.

He noted that ‘ICEI-Sewalanka-SLEF Project in Purchase tenormin online Arugam Bay is very productive for Sri Lanka Tourism and thanked ICEI and Sewalanka Foundation headed by Harsha Kumara Nawaratne, the Chairman, Sewalanka Foundation, for their great contribution in moving the project ahead. Jagath Harshana, Coordinator, Tourism Division, Sewalanka Foundation proposed the Vote of Thanks.

source:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071111/TV/tv-times000017.html

Award for Arugam Bay?

Published on 05/11/2007 in press coverage and the bay. 0 Comments
Council in line for tourism award

NEW Forest District Council is on the brink of winning its greatest ever tourism award.

The council and its tourism manager Tony Climpson are the only English entries short-listed for the final of a top international awards scheme.

The New Forest is short-listed alongside Costa Rica and Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay Metoclopramide how much in the best destination section of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards scheme.

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Mr Climpson, who has been at the helm of the council’s tourism activities for more than 20 years, is in the final three of the “personal contribution” listings.

Run in conjunction with The Times, World Travel Market (WTM) and Geographical Magazine, the awards will be announced at a special ceremony in London’s Docklands on November 14, which is WTM World Responsible Tourism.

Maureen Holding, the council’s portfolio holder for employment, health and well-being, said: “To be short-listed is excellent. We are the only council to be listed in this country. The work achieved is stunning and, whatever the outcome, the listing is marvellous.”

New Forest District Council is the tourism destination management organisation for the New Forest district, which now contains the New Forest National Park.

The council has been involved in developing a car free visitor network and in creating the New Forest Breakfast and the New Forest Marque brand, which helps local producers sell their goods.
source:
http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/journalnewsindex/display.var.1806494.0.council_
in_line_for_tourism_award.php

AbaY Award?

Published on 21/10/2007 in press coverage and the bay. 0 Comments

High profile international recognition for Arugam Bay

Responsible Tourism Partnership said that Arugam Bay has been selected as one of the three finalists for the Best Destination award at the World Travel Market World Responsible Tourism Award.

Charmarie Maelge, Director/CEO of the RTP said that “WTM Responsible Tourism Awards is now in the fourth year and this is the first time that a Sri Lankan tourism establishment has been recognised.

Arugam Bay and the rest of the country will benefit tremendously from this rare and most prestigious recognition”. The aim of the awards is to recognise individuals, companies and organisations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and are providing a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation.

There are 13 award categories. The Best Destination Award is given for a resort, village or an entire country that manages tourism well for the long-term benefit of tourists, conservation and local people.

Maelge said that the Responsible Tourism Partnership (RTP) submitted the application for Arugam Bay on behalf of the tourism community and the people of Nolvadex purchase canada Arugam Bay and the NGOs who have been actively working rebuilding livelihoods promoting community tourism efforts.

The application was submitted in association with the Sewalanka Foundation, Arugam Bay Tourism Association and ICEI in Arugam Bay.
source:
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/10/21/fin03.asp
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