Tourism rewards fisher folks with Catamaran Race

A catamaran race was organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau along with the Negombo Hoteliers Association at the Negombo Beach on Saturday.

This was the second event conducted on “Visit Sri Lanka 2011” programme by the Bureau under January monthly theme of “Pristine Beaches.”

Year-round special events and activities will be organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) along with the tourism industry on the Visit Sri Lanka 2011 special promotional theme “12 refreshing themes for 12 months” during the year.

Catamarans are very popular sailing boats in the sea and very unique to Negombo area. Many tourists participated at the event and enjoyed the catamaran race. Winners of the first, second and third contestants of the race were given cash prizes of Rs. 25,000, Rs. 15,000 and Rs.10,000 respectively along with a certificate by the Sri Lanka Tourism.

Sri Lanka Tourism industry sources said that the event was a great success with even a few tourists participating and enjoying the overall experience. “We hope to promote this event in the South and other locations as well as explore the opportunity of making it an international event,” they added.

It was pointed out that fishing community and the industry is a direct beneficiary of the revival of tourism in the country whilst the sea and the beach are an integral part of Sri Lanka tourism’s profile.

“Events of this kind will further nurture the peaceful co-existence of tourism and the fishing communities,” sources added.