Several visiting teams from Stamford School, Lincolnshire, England will be taking part in a friendly cricket tour of Sri Lanka have arrived in the country and will be here till April 9. The 55-member contingent will be accompanied with their coaches, including former England International cricketer, Dean Headley who is also a cricket professional at Stamford School. The group will be touring the island for a five match series in Kandy and the venues would be international cricketing grounds such as the Asgiriya Stadium and the Pallekele Stadium. The rest of the tour will see the touring teams play at P Sara Oval, De Zoysa Cricket Stadium, BRC, St. Thomas’ College, St. Joseph’s College and Thurstan College grounds.

Dean Hadley, cricket professional at Stamford School stated “The boys are really excited about visiting Sri Lanka as well as the staff, this experience of playing cricket in the subcontinent will always remain with them for the rest of their lives. We are always keen to tour places of different cultures that can offer all-round experiences for the English youth”.

Lions Sports Travel, the specialist sports travel arm of Barefoot Traveler, in collaboration with Stamford School have organised the tour, which will see the teams based initially in Mount Lavinia, before spending two nights each in Kandy and Negombo coupling the tour with education and insights into Sri Lankan History.

The group will visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the famous Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. The Sports Unit of Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd who have handled many tours of this nature in the past is handling the logistics for this tour.

A total of 25 competitively friendly games have been arranged with the assistance of Sri Lanka Cricket against some of Sri Lanka’s leading local school and club teams. The tourists will also participate in a charity drive donating cricket gear to underprivileged young cricketers through the Mahela Jayawardena Foundation.

Lions Sports Travel, Chief Executive Dipan Suwarneraj said, “Our school cricket tours are a great opportunity for students participating from both countries to mix and learn from each other whilst enjoying the fellowship that comes from playing cricket in a competitively friendly setting.”

Source : http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=sports/aitken-spence-facilitates-stamford-school-cricket-tour-sri-lanka

An air conditioned  Super Luxury Inter City Train between Colombo and Kandy will be added to the service from  today (03), starting from Kandy at 5.50 am, the  Railway transport superintendent L.A.R Rathnayake said.

Source : http://asianmirror.lk/english/index.php/topstory/14104-kandy-colombo-super-luxury-intercity-train-begins-the-first-journey-today

Arjuna Rathnayake who hails from Galagedara commenced his career at Earl’s Regency as a trainee waiter. Motivated by his passion and talent Rathnayake climbed up the ranks and was soon promoted to barman. In his new position the talented Rathnayake excelled in the competition arena where he went on to win a Gold and Bronze Medal at the Chefs Guild Culinary Art 2010.

“We are extremely proud to have in our team, talented members such as Arjuna. We take great pride in our staff and continuously encourage them to participate in competition in order to nurture their inherent skills. Seeing them excel motivates us and encourages the rest of the team to follow their dreams”, said Neroy Marso, General Manager, Earl’s Regency, Kandy.

Nested in the historical hill capital of Sri Lanka, Earl’s Regency is recognized as the premium five star property in Kandy. The Hotel owned by Sumiko Lanka Hotels is managed by Aitken Spence Hotels, a subsidiary of Aitken Spence.

Source : http://www.dailymirror.lk/travel/travel-tips/22699-earls-regency-secures-first-place-in-kandy-region-.html

‘I magine there’s no heaven …It’s easy if you try.’ Heaven is a place on earth and the exact meaning of Lennon’s song came to me only when I visited Madulkelle few weeks ago, where I discovered heaven. Imagine waking up to the sounds of birds chirping outside and the sun rays over the Knuckles Mountain range falling on your tent room. Zip down the tent door to see a deer or a giant squirrel run away to the valley of tea plantations and witness the most spectacular morning views imaginable.

This is not a script from a movie or a dream but just an unspoilt location just about 140 kms away from Colombo.

‘Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge’, is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka offering a revolutionary and contemporary concept to the traditional warmth and hospitality that Sri Lanka is famous for. Nestled on a picturesque 23 acre tea plantation, on the West slope of the Knuckles Mountain Range, ‘Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge’ can be reached via Katugastota, Madawala and Wattegama and is just about one hours drive from the Kandy City Center.

Perched on the Hunas Mountain on a nearly 70 year old tea plantation, overlooking the Hulu Gaga valley and the ‘Knuckles’ Mountain range, ‘Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge’ is a unique resort with 11 permanent luxury tent secluded lodges (rooms) on platforms on the ridge of the mountain.

‘This way we not only preserved the Tea Plantation, but continue with the production of tea to the world market’ said Bhathiya Gunesekera, the Managing Director of the project.

All lodges are made of high quality tarpaulin canvas specially imported from South Africa. Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge intend to establish 20 to 30 platforms on the ridge for luxury tent accommodations.

‘This is the very same material used by many world renowned safari camps especially in campsites all over Africa’ he added.

Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge is a 70 million BOI investment project which started in 2008 with a French company and Philippe Gomez is the Director representing the overseas interest.

Each lodge at the Madulkelle Eco Lodge can hold a maximum of 3 people and feature a front porch with ‘out-of-this-world’ views, comfortable beds, full bathroom with walk-in shower and a separate private water closet.

‘Guests staying at the Madulkelle Eco Lodge will appreciate the many facilities and services on offer. Some of these facilities include a newly built real colonial style ‘planter’s’ estate house with reception, welcome area and information desk, a library with internet access and a business centre, an English styled Lounge Bar and a dining room and restaurant with a cozy fireplace.

‘The cuisine we offer is all Sri Lankan and cater according to our guests needs and requirements. Gobble and fusion cuisine is our favourite’ said Chaminda, the Manager of the place.

‘Ayurvedic Massages and Therapies by welltrained staff could be arranged in the privacy of your tent or even outdoors under the cool shade of a tree’ Bhathiya stated.

At Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge, most of the fruits, vegetables and herbs needed for the kitchen are home grown in their organic garden. This ensures the freshness of the product.

‘An Organic Vegetable and Herb Garden yielding fresh vegetables and herbs all year round helps our Chef to prepare fresh and delicious meals daily,’ said Mr. Gomez, who is keen on culinary delights offered to the guests.

‘We strongly believe in giving back to the society and the various communities we associate with. We conduct regular community service programmes with the nearby village community to help sustain their livelihood and the education of their children. Regular donation of books for the village library and the donation of computers to provide IT training for children are couple of the initiatives undertaken by us’ Bhathiya said.

PIX BY NEIL SIRIWEERA

Source :http://www.dailymirror.lk/travel/186-travel-main/22268-madulkelle-tea-a-eco-lodge-an-inimitable-concept-.html

Elamulla is a remote location on the Northern slop of the Piduruthalagala Mountain range in the Nuwara Eliya District bordering the mysteriously beautiful Mandaram Nuwara. As the name reveals, Mandaram Nuwara, the gloomiest spot in Sri Lanka covered by the tallest mountain ranges and the forest shadows, is probably one of the best locations for adventurous excursions like trekking in trails mostly lush with a full range of flora and fauna to resemble a complete biodiversity on offer.

Definitely out of the popular and recognised tourism zones, ‘Elamulla Ecological Bungalow’ is situated in the middle of the serene settings of one of Sri Lanka’s largest organic farmlands in Elamulla with a picturesque Piduruthalagala mountain range as back drop. ‘Elamulla retreat is one of the most unique properties nature had gifted and probably the most unexplored destination Sri Lanka could offer.

‘Elamulla Ecological Bungalow’ is nearly 65 kms away from Kandy and just two kms from Mandaram Nuwara on Rikillagaskada Padiyapalella road. Mandaram Nuwara is an exclusively unique location within close proximity to the resort which is a definite plus point in elaborating the value of the location.

‘Elamulla Ecological Bungalow’, which was opened just two months ago after the renovation, offers five luxury rooms, overlooking the splendour of Elamulla Water fall and the virgin forest surrounded by the estate.

‘This bungalow is well over 80 years old and it has been refurbished and transformed into a modern luxury retreat, now available to indulge the Lanka’s latest unspoilt location’ said Janaka Dodanwala, Manager of the property.

Especially, the retreat is an unmatched hideout from the rest of the world for a total relaxation and yet with the basic luxuries one could possibly expect from a small luxury resort.

The property is an authentic granite structured colonial bungalow with five bed rooms out of which two sets of rooms are inter-connecting and one is an exclusive individual unit, thus offering three accommodation units.

The Elamulla Bungalow is comprised with a private pool in the back yard and with a wooden fired chimney together with a spectacular garden which spans over the mountain range to create a unique tranquillity for an exclusive colonial retreat.

‘The visitors can now experience an unforgettable holiday by participating in various activities apart from absolute relaxing. We have two water falls and a natural pond for total private bathing and three to two hour trek cross the estate to Habaragala Forest’ Janaka explained.

The guests too can join the field work at the organic farming and gain hands on experience and observation of organic cultivation practices at the 17 acre garden and farm.

The garden and the farm with authentic organic farming for fruits, vegetables and herbs will make an unique combination with the bungalow to have its own farms to provide the fruit and vegetable requirement of the resort.

‘The sumptuous Sri Lankan food served at the bungalow, is authentically organic

and exclusively from our own gardens. Apart from that our paddy field are now on production with ancient rice varieties such as ‘heenati’, ‘suvandal’, ‘pachchaperumal’, ‘olu’ to name a few’ said Sampath Senanayake, Director General Manager –Operations of the Bio Food (Pvt.) Limited, the owning company of the Bungalow.

‘Like other hotels and resorts, we do not have any set times for meals. Breakfast, lunch or dinner will be served at times requested by our guests. It is lazy living at Elamulla’ Janaka said.

Bird watching and jungle safaris can be arranged on request. Wild bore, leopards, wild frogs, braking deer and varieties of birds can be encountered at this unrefined nature.

Source : http://www.dailymirror.lk/travel/186-travel-main/21984-elamulla-eco-bungalow-an-unmatched-hideout-.html