Visit Sri Lanka a Small Miracle

THE WAR IS OVER

THE WAR IS OVER : welcome to 'a birds eye view' over the paradise island of Sri Lanka aided by the surround sound of the indian ocean. Divine Never seen before view of Sri Lanka captured from Seaplanes, Helicopters and Hot Air Balloons. From the East Coast to the West Coast with the divine percussion of tidal waves lapping on sand and rocks creating a paradisical orchestra throughout the big trip on the small island. This is the first ever documented aerial photography trip over Sri Lanka. Featured on National Geographic, Discovery Travel & Living and many other Travel Channels.
THIS VIDEO FEATURED ON THE HOME PAGE OF YOUTUBE IN JUNE 2006 and has OVER A MILLION VIEWS ON THE WWW.
Created for the Sri Lanka Tourism Board Cluster & funded for Tsunami Relief on the island by US AID.

Sri Lanka Small Miracle

Sri Lanka Tourism officially launched its new logo and tagline Sri Lanka Small Miracle with the ushering of peace in a new era.

Addressing the guests and media via a live feed from Temple Trees at the launch of Small Miracle at the BMICH, President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared 2011 as Visit Sri Lanka Year.

In keeping with this theme, a series of activities and events have been planned in 2011 to lure in more tourists to the island.

The President said: Having regained peace, my vision for development of tourism has become a reality. The rebranding is an integral part of the repositioning strategy of Sri Lanka Tourism, and comes at an opportune time with the dawning of a new era of peace in Sri Lanka, where there are much expectations and opportunities in the tourism industry.

Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Dileep Mudadeniya, said The objective of the Sri Lanka Tourism re-branding exercise was to create a single core idea that can change peoples perception of the country.

The challenge faced by Sri Lanka Tourism during the brand strategy planning session in 2006 was to find an idea that embraces the truth of the country, which is relevant to the potential visitor; then communicate that idea through every material item produced, thus establishing an integrated marketing communication approach, he said.

Sri Lankan tourism industry has a great potential in the future. In 2008 Sri Lanka Tourism was able to earn economic events worth around US$ nine trillion and we hope that in the future Tourism will be one of the major foreign exchange earning industry, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Bernard Goonetilleke said.

What is your favourite weather?

Tropical weather! With ocean breezes and the scent of flowers like jasmine and frangipani in the air ... Sri Lanka weather, in other words.


(a scene from the drive along the southern coast towards the cities of Galle and Matara; this is probably my favorite drive in all of Sri Lanka)

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be?

In Galle, Sri Lanka, where my great-grandfather is from. It's right by the ocean and just gorgeous, but also quiet and peaceful. If not there, I would like to live in a house within walking distance of the beach, somewhere along the Indian Ocean. That is my ultimate dream.


(A view from the famous Galle Fort, a 17th century Dutch fort built at the edge of the city. There's a self-contained little village inside the confines of the Fort!)

Favorite vacation spot?

A beach on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, or somewhere really interesting, unique and out-of-the-way like Tibet or Bhutan. I am determined to visit both the latter countries one day!

The island of Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean, to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal and to the southeast of the Arabian Sea. It is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. According to Hindu mythology, a land bridge to the Indian mainland, known as Rama's Bridge, was constructed during the time of Rama by the vanara architect Nala. Often referred to as Adam's Bridge, it now amounts to only a chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea level. According to colonial British reports, this is a natural causeway which was formerly complete, but was breached by a violent storm in 1480. The width of the Palk Strait is small enough for the coast of Sri Lanka to be visible from the furthest point near the Indian town of Rameswaram.The island consists mostly of flat-to-rolling coastal plains, with mountains rising only in the south-central part. Amongst these is the highest point Pidurutalagala, reaching 2,524 metres (8,280 ft) above sea level.

The climate of Sri Lanka can be described as tropical and warm. Its position between 5 and 10 north latitude endows the country with a warm climate moderated by ocean winds and considerable moisture. The mean temperature ranges from about 16 °C (61 °F) in the Central Highlands, where frost may occur for several days in the winter, to a maximum of approximately 33 °C (91 °F) in other low-altitude areas. The average yearly temperature ranges from 28 °C (82 °F) to nearly 31 °C (88 °F). Day and night temperatures may vary by 4 °C (7 °F) to 7 °C (13 °F). During the coldest days of January, many people wear coats and sweaters in the highlands and elsewhere. May, the hottest period, precedes the summer monsoon rains. The rainfall pattern is influenced by monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal: as the winds encounter the mountain slopes of the Central Highlands, they unload heavy rains on the slopes and the southwestern areas of the island. Some of the windward slopes receive up to 2,500 millimetres (98 in) of rain each month, but the leeward slopes in the east and northeast receive little rain. Periodic squalls occur and sometimes tropical cyclones bring overcast skies and rains to the southwest, northeast, and eastern parts of the island. Between December to March, monsoon winds come from the northeast, bringing moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Humidity is typically higher in the southwest and mountainous areas and depends on the seasonal patterns of rainfall, and places like Colombo experience daytime humidity above 70% all year round, rising to almost 90% during the monsoon season in June. Anuradhapura experiences a daytime low of 60% during the monsoon month of March, but a high of 79% during the November and December rains. In the highlands, Kandy's daytime humidity usually ranges between 70% and 79%.