Sri Lankan resort wins world's top Eco-Lodge title at World Travel Awards 2008

The awards are the most prestigious awards in the travel trade as they are based on votes by travel agents and travel professionals world-wide.

"Sustainability and green tourism are becoming major economic drivers for the tourism industry and we are delighted that Sri Lanka is gaining international recognition for its eco tourism initiatives,"

remarked Heba Al Ghais Al Mansoori, Middle East Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

"We are confident that such awards will encourage more hotels to adopt sustainable policies, ensuring a low impact on the environment and local culture, while at the same time, helping generate prosperity, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems," Ms Al Mansoori said.

"Sri Lanka has been at the vanguard of environmental stewardship in the resort industry and continues to add new amenities and programs, with an eye towards remaining genuine to the system of reliable stewardship of the land, conserving resources, environment and culture as an important aspect of the resort experience in Sri Lanka," Ms Al Mansoori observed.

Sri Lanka's KumbukRiver Eco Extraordinaire won the top honours despite competition from: Borana Lodge, Kenya; Chalalan Ecolodge, Bolivia; Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, Australia; Finca Esperanza Verde Ecolodge, Nicaragua; Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve, Ecuador; Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Costa Rica; Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, Nicaragua; and Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Sabah, Malaysia

Tucked away in a warm and green corner of the paradise, KumbukRiver Eco Extraordinaire is shaped like a giant elephant. Time stands still in this exclusive eco enclave bordering the Kumbukkan Oya, a river that never runs dry. Situated 250kms from Colombo, in the gem-rich Okkampitiya, KumbukRiver is Sri Lanka's piece de' resistance among eco lodges.

Nestled on 14 acres of natural bliss on the edge of a sleepy farming village, KumbukRiver isn't just another eco-lodge. What makes KumbukRiver unique is that the entire facility can be reserved for just one touring party, from a single nature-loving person, to a small family or a bigger group of up to 10.

The resort offers a participatory plan that makes guests an integral part of the eco plan that includes a commitment to preserving the habitat, planting a tree and helping the rural economy reeling under the shackles of poverty and protecting the wildlife.

The prestigious World Travel Awards are ranked as the greatest awards in tourism and provide an important benchmark for measuring tourism performance and success in promoting travel attractions around the world.

World Travel Awards Limited was established in 1993 and since then the Awards have gone from strength to strength. Every year, hundreds more travel agents round the globe participate in the voting and, during the build-up to the Awards Ceremony, the level of excitement that is now generated throughout the travel industry can only be described as fever-pitched.

Travel agents in over 200 countries and territories around the world cast their votes. Regional geographical categories are broken down from the Whole World category into eight smaller areas - Africa, Asia/Pacific, Caribbean, Central & Latin America, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America. These are then further divided into all areas of the travel industry.

Sri Lanka offers diversity within easy reach in a small island. Among the many epithets showered upon this tiny island include Serendipity, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma and Pearl of the Indian Ocean to name a few and none comes even close to articulate the true beauty and old world charm of Sri Lanka.

SriLankan Airlines operates a full Airbus fleet to 41 destinations in 22 countries worldwide. Flights from the Middle East to Colombo connect with onward services to the Maldives, 11 key destinations in India, seven destinations in the Far East including Malaysia, Singapore, China and Thailand.