Browsing by Author "Weerasingha, I."

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Involvement of Travel Agencies in Sri Lanka to promote Museums in tourism industry through the medium of tour packages
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Weerasingha, I.
In Sri Lanka, travel agencies are prominent in tourism industry in promoting cultural heritages through the medium of tour packages. A tour package is an effective promotional method in attracting tourists at the popular and even lesser known heritage attractions. Though there are more than 100 private and state museums located in the country, mostly Colombo National Museum is being highly promoted in tourism industry. This study discusses how the museums are being promoted for the tourists in the industry via tour packages. Tour packages are offered as two categories such as tailor-made and ready-made packages, but the research is based on the ready-made tour packages offered by the travel agencies. Research problem is ‘how far do travel agencies in Sri Lanka support in promoting museums through tour packages?’ Major objective of the research is to identify the involvement of the travel agencies in promoting museums in Sri Lanka. Minor objectives are to identify ‘what are the travel agencies involving in promoting museums, to observe particular museum which are being promoted by the agencies and to identify promotional strategies practiced by the travel agencies in promoting museums’. Both primary and secondary data were used while primary data were collected from a sample of 25 travel agencies with their official web sites where culture based tour packages are advertised in several ways. It was identified that a considerable amount of travel agencies have not included museums in their tour packages and mostly 90% of agencies promote Colombo National Museum and it is only 20% of agencies have included museum as a symbol of promoting tour packages. Since museum is prominent in cultural heritage in a country, it is the responsible of the travel agencies as a service provider in the tourism sector, to promote not only the Colombo National Museum but also the other national museums, site museums, private museums, and state museums which are significant in various aspects of heritage in Sri Lanka.
Religious Perception with Colossal Masterpieces: a Case Study of World’s Largest Samadhi Buddha Statue at Rambodagalla Temple, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Weerasingha, I.
The world’s largest rock carved Samadhi Buddha statue (67.5 ft) has been carved at Rambadagalla Temple which is located about 25 km from Kurunegala Town in Sri Lanka. Ven. Arnaramoli Thero, the pioneer of this colossal spiritualized creation who was determined to put such a huge concept into practice after visiting the largest Buddha statue in the world, the Bamiyan Buddha statues destructed by the Thaliban extremists. A rock peak about 70 feet high situated at the far end of the temple premises was selected as the suitable location for this purpose and the project was commenced on 13th of September 2013 and opened to the public on 30th of April 29015. The massive statue was carved by the most renowned sculptor from India, Padma Sri and Silpa Kalamni awards winner Mr. M.M. Sthapathi. Major objective of the study was to analyze the devotees’ motivations for visiting colossal masterpiece of art work in religious perspective. The other objectives were to identify the extreme uniqueness of this Buddha statue, to analyze the challenges encountered during the statue constructions, to analyze the religious perception of the devotees, and to observe the visitor related facilities within the site. Both primary and secondary data were referred during the case study including filed observations, interviews, structured questionnaires and other literary sources. Though there is lack of historically value within the site, thousands of devotees have visited the statue within a short period of time. Ridiviharaya Temple another historical and religious attraction is located 4 km away from Rambodagalla Temple but nowadays pilgrim groups are highly motivated to visit the particular site due to its massiveness. Disregarding the distances large amount of devotees arrive at the site to witness the statue, even from various province. Visitor related facilities within the premises should be further developed as the site is being more popularized day by day through the mass medias as well. The study emphasizes that the devotees are extremely motivated by the colossal masterpiece of works even by present disregarding the historical value.
Role of Tea in Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Weerasingha, I.
Geographical and climatic conditions of Sri Lanka have formed an appropriate possibility for tea cultivation including the areas in Central Province, Southern Province and Western Province. Historical evidences proved that tea tree has a long history dates back to the late 19th Century. Tea trails have been included in most of the tour packages offered by the travel agencies in their tour itineraries. Currently tea plantations, tea culture and tea production have been interacted by the tourism industry in the country. This study is based on the potential in tea concept for promoting tourism industry in all aspects of hospitality, nature tourism, culture tourism, community tourism, and tourism promotions. The research problem was to identify how the tea plant is being attracted by the tourists for their travel and hospitality related satisfaction. Research was conducted by accessing both primary and secondary data collective methods where 20 travel agencies were observed, 7 tea states were observed and 20 tourists were interviewed during the research. Tea products and plantations have been identified as primitive attraction by travel agencies and tour operators for promoting both nature and cultural tourism. Brochures and websites of the travel agencies have been designed with tea culture while the hospitality industry (accommodation units) offers another kind of warm welcome with tea service for their guests such as High Tea. At the tea factories organize specific tea trails where the visitors are given the opportunity to experience from planting tea crops, tea plucking and production procedure. Tea is one of the international symbolic icons in promoting Sri Lanka so that tourism industry is being attributed immense advantage from tea culture. Moreover new technological aspects can be attributed in the tourism industry for promoting tea based tourism experience.