News

Sigiriya Jungles marks 10 years with community medical camp

Published

2 months ago

2026/07/15

Sigiriya Jungles Resort & Spa will commemorate its 10th anniversary by hosting a community medical camp for residents of surrounding villages on August 11, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to community wellbeing and sustainable tourism.

The medical camp, scheduled from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. at the resort premises, will provide BMI assessments, full blood tests, cholesterol screening, blood pressure checks, eye and dental examinations, medicines, and health awareness sessions aimed at promoting preventive healthcare and healthier lifestyles. The anniversary celebrations will continue later that evening in the presence of invited religious leaders, health officials and other dignitaries.

Founder and Chairman of Sigiriya Jungles Resort & Spa, Devindre Senaratne, said the initiative reflected the resort’s desire to create a meaningful and lasting impact on the community that has supported its journey over the past decade.

“Our greatest achievement is not measured by occupancy or awards, but by the happy guests and the relationships we have built over a decade. Seeing this positive impact is what really makes us happy,” he said.

Located in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, the purposefully designed 60-room resort has welcomed more than 250,000 guests since opening in 2016. Designed by architect Vinod Jayasinghe, a protégé of the late Geoffrey Bawa, the property is distinguished by its bridge inspired by the historic Bogoda Bridge and offers visitors convenient access to UNESCO World Heritage attractions, including Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. The resort also conducts immersive experiences such as the Audangawa Village Tour and traditional Sri Lankan village cooking demonstrations at Archchi’s.

Over the past decade, Sigiriya Jungles has received several industry recognitions, including TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence, consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards from 2020 to 2026, the Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2026, and certifications for Safe and Secure Hospitality Operations and International Food Safety Standards (ISO 22000).

The resort has also undertaken a range of community initiatives, including the construction of the Audangawa Village Temple, continued support for Moragaswewa Vidyalaya in Habarana, regular shramadana campaigns, local sourcing programmes and certified skills training. More than 650 individuals have been trained through the resort over the past decade, many of whom now serve in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and overseas.

General Manager Chaminda Samaranayake said the resort remained committed to strengthening its sustainability agenda and is currently progressing towards Travelife certification.

“We are deeply grateful to our guests, staff, local communities, religious leaders, suppliers and partners who have helped shape these ten years. The next chapter will be guided by the same values that brought us here,” he said.

https://www.sigiriyajungles.com/

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

News

22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.

News

TIN mandatory for key transactions from Nov. 1

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

A valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Certificate will be required for a range of key transactions in Sri Lanka from November 1, 2026, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced.

The requirement, introduced under the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026, applies to transactions specified under Section 102(3) of the Inland Revenue Act.

Accordingly, individuals will be required to produce a valid TIN Certificate when opening an account at a bank or financial institution, obtaining approval for a building plan, registering or renewing the licence of a motor vehicle, registering land or title to land, registering a business, transferring shares in a company incorporated in Sri Lanka or obtaining a credit card.

In the case of share transfers, both the transferor and transferee will be required to provide TIN certificates.

The IRD said officials handling such transactions had been instructed to ensure that a valid TIN Certificate was submitted before processing or completing the relevant transaction.

The Department advised those who do not already have a TIN to obtain one in advance through its e-Services platform.

It said a printout of the TIN verification result showing the applicant’s National Identity Card number and TIN could also be accepted instead of the certificate.The IRD also reiterated that obtaining a TIN is mandatory for resident individuals aged 18 and above under the applicable provisions.