Sinharaja Eco Lodge to promote mindful tourism

By Yohan Perera and Lakmal Sooriyagoda
Located in the village of lush green Lankagama, in Neluwa, Galle, Sinharaja Eco Lodge has become a centre of attraction among nature lovers. This is because of its unique location at the border of one of the most beautiful rainforests in the Asian region, Sinharaja.
It is not only the Sinharaja that makes the hotel special. It becomes special because of the number of waterfalls in the village. The waterfalls – Brahamana Fall, Uran Watunu Fall, Gal Oruwa Waterfall, Thatu Waterfall and Duuvili Waterfall, are located in less than a five-kilometre distance. One can visit all these waterfalls within a short space of time. In addition, the guests could spot rare Sri Lankan creatures such as various species of chameleons.
The hotel offers its guests an authentic rainforest experience while minimising their impact on the environment. The guests can enjoy comfortable accommodation, delicious local cuisine such as traditional preparations of mushrooms and other traditional vegetables. One can also enjoy traditional Sri Lankan toddy, which is also considered as a medicinal drink. They can also enjoy camping, boat riding and hiking. Outbound training is another feature that the guests could enjoy.

According to Managing Director Chinthaka Kariyakarawana, the hotel is planning to promote mindful tourism, which is an approach towards prioritising the well-being of local communities and preservation of cultural heritage. 
“We also want to promote the spiritual enrichment of tourists and thereby promote meditation. This is a new trend in tourism, which is becoming popular. Few countries have adopted this concept of organising meditation sessions for tourism. We are determined to introduce this concept as well,” Kariyakarawana said.
“You will get the opportunity of enjoying clean air in this area and also you can consume the cleanest water. We also provide organic food, which is grown in an estate behind our hotel. We promote three components, namely clean air, clean water and organic food,” Kariyakarawana added.
The hotel was founded by Dr. Sunil Kariyakarawana, who is the Chaplain Buddhist Affairs to the King of England. The hotel was founded 16 months ago.
Having undergone a challenging time during the COVID 19 pandemic, the hotel has picked up business now.