SLTDA plans Rest Houses and Holiday Resorts for Budget Travellers

In keeping with the Narambamu Sri Lanka project launched by the Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with Sri Lanka Tourism, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has initiated a campaign to refurbish the existing, SLTDA owned rest houses and holiday resorts. The Narambamu Sri Lanka project singularly aims to spur interest in domestic tourism, and encourage Sri Lankans to travel within our own country, discovering lesser known attractions among the more widely known, and popular sites of historic and cultural interest.
SLTDA owns and manage pilgrim rest houses at Kataragama and Anuradhapura and domestic holiday resorts at Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela. During the year 2007 and 2008, Bandarawella and Nuwara Eliya resorts were fully refurbished and the Kataragama Pilgrim Rest is being refurbished at present as well as other ground improvements being planned for the immediate surroundings. The Anuradhapura Rest House will be refurbished subsequently.
The Kataragama Rest House is located within the sacred city area and neither liquor, nor fish or meat, are served at the venue. The Anuradhapura Rest House is located in close proximity to the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree and while liquor is not being served there, only vegetarian food will be served at this rest house too, in future.
Furthermore, it has been decided that liquor will not be served at Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela Resorts, effective 14th April, in a bid to attract families with children.
SLTDA and SLTPB Chairman, Bernard Goonetilleke said, “With the change in concepts, our products will be placed in a unique position, differentiated from other establishments in the region. Combined with the economical prices, this will offer the average local person, the freedom to travel within our country with ease”. 
The Anuradhapura Rest House will be the only establishment in the area where singularly vegetarian dishes will be served. This will form a key differentiation in terms of this venue, and its value as a family retreat will be enhanced.
Director Domestic Tourism and Community Relations of SLTDA, P U Rathnayake stated, “We have carried out a training programme with the assistance of Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) and Hotel Taj Samudra to train the chefs in the preparation of vegetarian dishes, in order to ensure the food retains high quality”.