SRI LANKAN WINS International Media Award

Ivan Alvis, a journalist attached to The Island Newspapers, Sri Lanka, and a Guest Writer for the Lanka Times, Melbourne, has won the Friends of Thailand Award, in the International Media category, for his articles highlighting the many tourist attractions, sites and venues in Thailand.

The prestigious awards ceremony will be held on 5th June, at the IMPACT Convention Center, in Bangkok, Thailand.

This year, there are 37 award recipients from 24 countries, in the following categories: International Individual, International Organization, International Tour Operator, International Media and International Airline.

The Friends of Thailand Awards was first held in December 1996 and the ceremony takes place once every two years.

These awards are in recognition of the contribution made by international organizations and individuals towards the success of the tourist industry in Thailand.

Mr. Alvis was nominated by the Royal Thai Embassy Colombo. The 25 Tourism Authority of Thailand (overseas offices) deliberated on the qualified individuals and bodies before nominating them to the judging committee, in Bangkok - comprising a number of distinguished individuals in the Thai tourism industry - for discretion.The Sri Lankan journalist has also been invited to stay back, after the awards ceremony, as host media for Thailand Travel Mart, 2013, and to travel with the international media to Laos, from June 8th to 10th, 2013.

Ivan Alvis is the first ever Sri Lankan journalist to win this award.