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Importance of English and other qualifications in Sri Lanka's tourism sector

5/30/2015

English is an international language, which is taught an used as second language in Sri Lanka. We not only use the language to communicate with others but also to do higher studies and to sit for various exams conducted by educational institutions. In Sri Lanka, English is used in science, in the business world and in the tourism sector, too.

I likes to learn English to offer better services and to improve my knowlege by discussions with foreign holidaymakers, when they are visiting our beautiful island of Sri Lanka.

Actually, millions of travellers usr search engines to find their ''private tour guide/driver/chauffeurs'' who can speak English. Indeed, it’s possible to find long lists of tourist guide names and some details of them online. But even if their English is perfect, you never know that you will get all the knowledge of our country from the person you selected or chose only via the internet. Some holidaymakers are kind to write reviews for them expressing thanks and conforming they are recommendable guides and drivers. Almost all guides request to write a review in the internet. That’s why there are many reviews of unauthorised or less qualified guides, too. As a result of this practice, other holidaymakers are not satisfied with the are services they receive when visiting our island. So please be aware, you should first check their permit or licence. Valid documents are only issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism Devolopment Authority (SLTDA).

Some non-govermental organizations are issuing unvalid permits or licences without government approval. Why? Because many tourist guides are cheating tourists. These days there are many media reports about such cases. For example, some guides asked for advance payments, promising services for a tailor-made trip, but when the guest arrived at Colombo Airport, there was nobody to welcome them.

So I should thank my parents, teachers, friends, neighbours and tourists who helped me to improve my knowledge of English privately. It is helpful to share my own knowledge about our Sri Lankan culture, Buddhism and history with the guests from all parts of the world. And their support allowed me to pass the exams of the SLTDA in order to become a fully licenced tourist guide.

Accidently, you now found one of my articles about tourism in Sri Lanka. So you have come to a right guide page. So please fill free to contact me or to ask any questions concerning travelling in Sri Lanka to check my qualification and knowledge.

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POSON POYA FESTIVAL 2559 or 2015 IN MIHINTALE, SRI LANKA

5/19/2015

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Poson is a day celebrated by Buddhists around the world. The term Poson comes from the name of a month in Sri Lankan and Indian calenders.

Poson day is one of the most important festival days in the Buddhist history of Sri Lanka as it commemorate that Buddhism started on a Poson day, when the royal missionary monk Mihinda's arrived and converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism, in the year 236 B.C.E. This event is mentioned in our Sri Lankan Mahawamsa Chronicle. Buddhist missionaries were sent to various countries in the world, apart from Sri Lanka. But in the case of Sri Lanka, Emperor Dharmasoka sent his own son, Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera, to lead the delegation. The Arahants (enlightened men) Ittiya, Uttiya, Sambala and Baddasala accompanied Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera on this mission. Sumana Samanera also joined them. The only layman in this mission was Bhanduka Upasaka.

King Devanampiyatissa followed by his men engaged himself in a game of hunting in the royal park, ”Missaka Pawwa”. A well-built deer ran swiftly along the king’s side. The king had no time to spare. Nobody else than the king himself was to kill the biggest deer on that day. But when he aimed at the deer, top at the foot of which the king was standing, he heard his name being called. The king was seriously concerned as to who in this world dared to call him by his name. However, he was not annoyed as the words were pleasing. The king looked up from the foot of the Mango tree where he was found standing dumb and saw the figure of a human being in yellow clothes. Till then he had never seen such a person with yellow clothes. He was amazed. ”This should be a supernatural being”, the king thought. Hitherto the king saw only one figure. The other four arahants, the samanera and the upasaka then also emerged one by one. Arahant Mahinda ascertained that the king was prepared to listen to him. His bow and arrow fell from his hands. He put his hands together on his forehead and knelt down on the ground under the Mango tree.

Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera decided to test the king’s knowledge and intelligence and to ascertain whether he could understand the Dhamma by delivering it in the normal way. Monk Mahinda decided to test king with a riddle. Pointing to a tree he asked him the name of the tree. This tree called a “mango”, replied the king. “Is there yet another mango besides this?” asked Monk Mahinda. “There are many Mango trees”, responded the king. “And are there yet other trees beside this Mango and the other Mangoes?”, asked Monk Mahinda. “There are many other trees, those trees which are not mangoes.” said the king. “And are there, besides the other Mangoes and those trees which are not Mangoes, yet other trees?” asked Monk Mahinda. “There is this mango tree”, said King Tissa, who as a result passed the test.

We generally wear white dress [Sil adun] when going the temples and participating in the traditional ceremonies at temple. The majority of the philgrims spends the whole day in the temple compound and they reaffirm their determination to follow the teachings of the Buddha. Every temple is filled with Ata Sil and Dasa Sil devoties and philgrims all over Sri Lanka celebrating this great event. In temples Buddhist worship, lit lamps, offer flowers and lit incense sticks. Many religious activities are organized by village communities, government departments of police, army, schools and by thee department of buddhist and civil organizations during this period at every temple of Sri Lanka, such as Sil campain, Bodi pooja, Amisa pooja, Perahara Prosses, Coffee or Tea, Dansal [freely giving foods], devotional songs [Bakthi Gee/Bathi Gee], Kavi Bana preaching, pandols or thoran, Aloka pooja, relique excibitions and lantherns.

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Vesak Festival in Sri Lanka

5/8/2015

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Vesak festival street decoration in colombo Sri Lanka

Vesak/Wesak is a day celebrated by Buddhists around the world. The term Vesak is derived from the name of a month in Sri Lankan and Indian calenders. Vesak day is one of the most important festival days in the Buddhist calender, as it commemorates three significant events in Lord Buddhas life, namely his birthday, his enlightment and his passing away. The birth of Siddharta Gautama, the future Buddha Shakyamuni, took place in Lumbini, which today is in Nepal. It was under an arbor sat tree where queen Mahamaya Gave birth to him. The second event was Siddharta Gautama’s supreme attainment as the Buddha. The third event was Lord Buddhas Parinibbana over 2559 years ago according to Buddhist calender.

We generally wear white dress [Sil Adun] when visiting our temples on Vesak Poya day in order to participate in the traditional ceremonies at the Buddhist Pansalas. The majority of the pilgrims spends the whole day in the temple, reaffirming their determination to follow the teachings of the Buddha. The temples are filled with Ata Sil and Dasa Sil devotees and pilgrims from all over Sri Lanka celebrating this great event. In the temples the Buddhist worshippers lit lamps, offer flowers and lit incense sticks. Many religious activities are organized by the local village communities and by the government departments of Police, Army, Schools and notably by the the Department of Buddhist and Civil Organizations during this period at every temple of Sri Lanka. Activities include Sil campaigns, Bodi Pooja, Amisa Pooja, Perahara Processions, Coffee & Tea, Dansal [freely giving foods], Vesak devotional songs [Bakthi Gee/Bathi Gee], Kavi Bana preaching, pandols or thoran and lanterns.

Apart from Sri Lanka many other Asian countries celebrate the Vesak festival, too, for example Nepal, Singapore, Taiwan, India , Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Bhutan.

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Importance of English and other qualifications in Sri Lanka's tourism sector

POSON POYA FESTIVAL 2559 or 2015 IN MIHINTALE, SRI LANKA

Vesak Festival in Sri Lanka

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