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Guiding ecotourism

Ranweli Holiday Village was awarded the "Sri Lanka Green Award of the Sri Lanka Environmental Journalists Forum( SLEJF) in recognition of outstanding practical achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment during 1998."

This award was presented by Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dharmasiri Senanayake, at the inaugural session at the 6th World Congress of the Environmental Journalists held in Sri Lanka in October 1998. Mr. Chandra de Silva a founding Director of Ranweli Holiday Village, was invited to deliver an address on the topic "Ecotourism: A Businessman's Viewpoint" to delegates of the 6th World Congress which was attended by 42 journalists from 24 countries and representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Commonwealth Foundation (TCF), Norwegian Agency for the International Development (NORAD) Lyonnaise des Eaux, Hivos, US-AEP and Goethe Institute and other guests interested in environment and sustainable development.

Mr. de Silva, a former senior Officer of the Department of Inland Revenue, is a Management and Tax Consultant, specially interested in Ecotourism. He has been mainly responsible for transforming Ranweli from a beach resort to an Ecotourist product. He is a professional member of the Ecotourism Society, based in the US and he serves on its advisory Board, consisting of world renowned professionals in the field of conservation and sustainable tourism. The members of the Advisory Board inter alia includes Dr. Donald Hawkings, Director Institute of Tourism Studies of the George Washington University, representatives from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and United Nations Environmental Programme. He is the first Asian to be invited to the Advisory Board.

Mr. de Silva is also the President of the ISO 14001 EMS Users Association. ISO 14001 is a global environmental standard

The Ecotourism Society based in Vermont in the US is an international non-profit organisation established to make tourism "a viable tool for conservation and sustainable development." The Ecotourism Societies Definition of Ecotourism: Responsible Travel to Natural Areas, which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people," has been widely dispersed.

The society is documenting the best techniques for implementing Ecotourism principles by collaborating with the growing global network of over 1400 Ecotourism professionals in 70 countries. Among its long term objectives are to establish education and training programmes which includes an annual course on Ecotourism Planning & Management at the George Washington University co-sponsored by the Ecotourist Society. The instructor of this workshop is the president of the Society Megan Elper Wood. The Society has published several books which are standard works on Ecotourism including the only independent, internationally recognised guidelines for the Nature Tour Industry.

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Help

W. G. Nimal Samaraweera, 29, is suffering from a kidney ailment for which doctors have advised him to undergo surgery at the Devaki Hospital, India. The parents appeal for help as the surgery will cost over Rs. 100,000. Those who wish to help are requested to deposit the contribution with the National Savings Bank, Maligawatta Branch, Ac/No. 33928 He lives at N0. 415/93, Jumma Masjid Rd., Maligawatte.

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