SRI LANKAN ENVOY ADDRESSES INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FELLOWSHIP OF SOUTH KOREA ON TOURISM OF SRI LANKA

Coinciding with the momentous Lunar New Year holidays in the Republic of Korea, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Korea, Dr. A. Saj U. Mendis, was invited to deliver a Special Lecture on Sri Lanka with particular emphasis on touristic attractions and attributes of Sri Lanka. This Special Lecture was organized by the Good News Corps Overseas Volunteer Program of International Youth Fellowship (IYF), an organization which has sent out nearly 10,000 university students and graduates to approximately 100 countries around the world to contribute for volunteerism, cultural exchange, mutual understanding and informal diplomatic activities, amongst others. The IYF is a highly recognized and reputed body in the region, which deepens and widens bilateral relations on people-to-people basis and enhances the understanding and awareness of cultures, values, ethos, religious beliefs and unique characteristics of different and diverse ethnicities and nationalities in myriad countries. The Program has sent a significant number of Korean university students and graduates to Sri Lanka as well and most of them were present at this Special Lecture.

Ambassador Dr. Mendis delivering the address at the Good News Corps Overseas Program of International Youth Fellowship with focus on Tourism of Sri Lanka

Before the 90-minute address of Dr. Mendis, the volunteers of Good News Corps Overseas Program of IYF performed a number of Sri Lankan cultural events and sang traditional Sri Lankan melodies, which they have learned during their stay in Sri Lanka. A total number of over 800 university students, graduates and parents of students, travel writers and guests were present at this Ceremony.

During the address, Ambassador Dr. Mendis enunciated that Sri Lanka is a country which has a temperature ranging from 6 degrees to 35 degrees Celsius, within less than five hour distance by road, at any given time of the year. This was stated particularly in the context that the temperature in Seoul, on this day, was minus 12 degrees Celsius. He stated that an Island nation, which is 2/3 the geographic extent of South Korea, could offer drastically varying temperatures, thus enabling people of the country or visitors to the country to pick and choose the weather and temperature that they wish to have. Most of the audience, who had not been to Sri Lanka, were highly impressed of this fact. Dr. Mendis further stated that many people and travelers are not aware that Sri Lanka offers almost every attribute and feature that any other country, known as highly sought after touristic destinations, could offer except snowcapped mountains and skiing. Since most of the Koreans and other nationalities who were in the audience were highly concerned and worried of the ongoing Coronavirus, Dr. Mendis stated that Sri Lanka is very safe and basically immune from the scourge of Coronavirus. He further added that “Lonely Planet”, “National Geographic”, “BBC Good Foods”, and “CNN, to name a few, have chosen Sri Lanka as amongst the most desired touristic destinations in the entire world. 

Ambassador Dr. Mendis delivering the address at the Good News Corps Overseas Program of International Youth Fellowship with focus on Tourism of Sri Lanka

Dr. Mendis added that this was a country, which could witness the largest living creature in the world i.e. whale, and the largest creature on land i.e. elephant, within a space of three hours with absolute safety and security. No country in the world would be able to offer these attributes to any tourist or visitor in any continent. Since most of the millennials, who were in the audience, are eager to engage in active outdoor sports such as hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, mountain climbing, trekking and wildlife, Dr. Mendis enunciated and elaborated on most of the places that the Korean tourists and visitors could visit and enjoy their vacations at a relatively competitive cost compared to any other European country. At the end of the Lecture, which Dr. Mendis encompassed economic, financial and commercial opportunities and vistas of the country as well, brochures and pamphlets including from Sri Lanka Tourism were distributed to the audience and most were delighted since they were in Korean language.

Seoul, Republic of Korea

7^th February 2020