By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Urban Development has taken steps to implement a project to improve the convection facilities in the Sigiri region which will generate a huge income for the country from tourism.
The project is being implemented at a cost of US$15million under the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) with the aim of improving tourism facilities, rural development, income generation and investment promotion in Sigiriya region.
Sigiriya tourism zone will be developed under nine sub projects under the ministry of urban development and housing minister Prasanna Ranatunge disclosed adding that this project will be foreign exhnge money spinner after its completion.
The nine sub projects include new car parks for surrounding villages, improvement of sanitary facilities and the Sigiriya entrance road, establishing an information centre at Sigiriya, conservation of Mapangala archeological site,and rehabilitation of Sigiri Lake and the , establishment of a heritage path from Ramakele to Pidurangala.
The othersubprojects are the conservation of the archaeological site surrounding Kaludiya Pond, improvement of infrastructure facilities at Inamaluwa Lake for recreational activities, development of infrastructure for tourist and recreational activities centred on Galewela Lake, and development of a solid waste management system in the Digampathana area.
The Sigiriya Rock Fortress was listed as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, making Sri Lanka the only Asian country to make it onto the list along with six other iconic sites appealing to the new age traveller with a thirst for adventure.
These marvels include archaeological and natural treasures spanning far wider than the ancient Greek world and catering to all types of modern explorers
Dating back to King Kashyapa in the fifth century A.D., Sigiriya is the “perfect amalgam of human-made treasure and natural wonder” enthuses Bloomberg.
Known as Lion Rock — a reference to the paws sculpted into the base of the 660-foot-tall stone — it includes elaborate cisterns and gardens, frescoed caves, and a winding stairway to the crowning citadel.
Sri Lanka Tourism has strategically embarked on developing Sigiriya, a World Heritage site, into a sustainable destination under the National Sustainable Destination Certification (NSDC) initiative.
Sustainable tourism is essential to protect natural, cultural, and environmental resources which are critical for the wellbeing of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. If these valuable resources are not sustained, Sri Lanka could see dwindling tourist numbers in the future.
