Sri Lanka Tourism will target over 4,000 foreign tourist arrivals to witness the forthcoming Kelaniya Duruthu Perahara scheduled to commence on January 19, 2016.

The Perahara will parade the streets around the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya premises and in the vicinity of Kelaniya from January 19 to 22.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman, P.M. Withana highlighted this at a conference in Colombo.

Chairman Withana said Sri Lanka Tourism will launch a global tourist promotional campaign on the historical and the religious value of Duruthu Perahara in countries worldwide to attract more tourists to Sri Lanka during this period.

Sri Lanka Tourism expects tourists from UK, Germany, France, Australia, USA, India Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Laos, Mongolia, Singapore and Taiwan at least two weeks before the commencement of the Perahara.

Chairman Withana said this is the first time Sri Lanka Tourism is directly involved with such a foreign tourist promotional campaign and this situation is a big boost to promote the Sri Lankan tourism industry in the world.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Paddy Withana, Chief Basnayake Nilame Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya and other officials at the event. Picture by Sudam Gunasinghe

Sri Lanka Tourism will also create the awareness of foreigners and global travel agencies on the significant importance of watching this historical Perahara through Sri Lankan embassies, high commissions and other missions to bring more tourists to Sri Lanka during this period.

Sri Lanka Tourism has also planned a programme to create awareness of Sri Lanka’s internationally renowned travel agencies, hoteliers and responsible officials in tourist destinations at historical , religious and entertaining places about the forthcoming promotional campaign.

“As you are aware, the Kelaniya Duruthu Perehara has a long history of over ten decades and the history of the Kelaniya temple dates back over 2500 years,” he said.

Kelani Raja Maha Viharaya is located ten kilometers North of the main city of Colombo.

Source : http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2015/12/21/business/tourism-promotional-drive-targeting-kelani-perahara