‘Formal recognition of Excellence in Ecotourism Industry in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) was awarded as the ‘Best Initiative for Ecotourism Research, Training and Education in Sri Lanka' at the 5th Annual Sri Lanka Tourism Awards.
‘Best Model Community Based Tourism Project in Sri Lanka' Award was bagged by the 'Walawa Nadee Ecotourism Organization', Ambalantota (WNEO).
SLEF has been actively contributing to the development of ecotourism in Sri Lanka for the last 14 years. Palitha Gurusinghe is the founder President of Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF),
the pioneer ‘National Ecotourism Society of Sri Lanka' that was established in 1998. During the past fourteen years, SLEF pioneered in promoting Community Based Ecotourism in Sri Lanka and worked hand in hand with other like-minded organizations in Sri Lanka, South and South East Asia, Asia-Pacific Region, in promoting Community Based Tourism(CBT) and poverty alleviation programmes through tourism.
SLEF has also introduced the Concepts of ‘Community Ecolodges' and ‘Community Camping' to Sri Lanka Tourism. These programmes were initiated to promote community tourism and uplifting of the lifestyles of the poor communities in tourism generating areas in Sri Lanka. ‘These important awards would certainly contribute towards positioning Sri Lanka as an Ecotourism Destination in the Asia-Pacific Region. At the same time, these achievements would certainly help SLEF to extend further support to poor communities living around the tourism generating areas of Sri Lanka in sharing the tourism income' said Palitha Gurusinghe, the President of SLEF.