Jetwing Research Forum and Exhibition launched at GLF 2011

Travellers and tourists descend on Galle from all parts of the world, but in January it is visitors who are bitten by the literary bug, that made their way to this famous city which played host to the most celebrated and popular writers in the world of English Literature at the Galle Literary Festival from 26 -30 January 2011.

Also for the fifth consecutive year running Jetwing Lighthouse played host and took centre stage as platinum sponsor for what Harper’s Bazaar called in 2007 the “Number One Literary Festival in the World”.  

As an active partner of the Galle Literary Festival, the Jetwing Lighthouse plays host to a wide range of literary activities that mark the five days of the festival. Not only will the hotel be hosting prominent authors as they discuss their books but it will also be the residence of a number of writers during the festival period guaranteeing invigorating literary discussions alongside delicious lunches and dinners as well as an entire day at the hotel dedicated to the children’s programme.

Aside from playing host to fabulous events and famous Jetwing presented its own key event at the festival for the very first time. On Thursday 27 January at the Maritime Museum in the Galle Fort, the Jetwing Research Initiative Exhibition and Forum laid bare the work of five Jetwing resident naturalists and their particular areas of research, to a packed hall of nature and history enthusiasts.

Hasantha Lokugamage of Jetwing Beach revisited the quaint village of Negombo and brought to life some lesser known facts that make a visit to Sri Lanka’s best known fishing village such a compulsion.

Naturalist Chaminda Jayasekara took participants on a film trek with the Slender Loris, a mesmerising look at these rare primates who had recently made the environs of Jetwing Vil Uyana their home! Fascinating you could say, as Chaminda explained how patiently he treads in the surrounding forest to meet this amiable visitor.

Buddhika Gamagedara of Jetwing St. Andrew’s, amplified the reintroduction of trout to the mountain streams of Nuwara Eliya, something not many would have expected, due to the unique nature of the concept, whilst the whale famed Anoma Alagiyawadu of Jetwing Lighthouse was in total animation speaking about the migration of whales and dolphins migrating past Mirissa on their journey to the South Seas. It was evident Anoma has come into his own establishing his repute as one of Sri Lanka’s foremost whale watchers due to the emphasis he places on responsible whale watching.

Nayanapriya Bandara of Jetwing Hunas Falls recounted the mystery surrounding the behaviour and ecology of Leopards keeping guests spell bound about the prospect of a sighting in the Knuckles Range.

Jetwing Chairman, Hiran Cooray as always was on hand to present Grants of Appreciation to the five Jetwing Naturalists while an enlivened audience of GLF visitors and local students were held in rapture by what promises to be a renewed exploration of our universe by the Jetwing team of naturalists.

The five projects were the icing on the cake at this GLF, underlining the maxim that literature grows with imagination but also with incident, especially when it is natural. For those who came, saw and learnt; Jetwing was gratified that an effort that grew from nowhere had firmly taken root creating awareness of our land and its unparalleled bounty! For nature lovers, the “Jetwing Research Initiative beckons and invites them to join our journey into the future” said Head of Sales and Marketing, Trevor Reckerman.