News

The event organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of National Tourist Guide Lecturers to commemorate the World Tourist Guide Day was successfully held on the 21st of February, with the participation of more than a hundred members.

During the first half of the day, Professor Raj Somadeva delivered a very important lecture, entitled “Archaeology of the 21st Century”, and the lecture dealt with many significant findings of modern archaeology. The professor also elaborated on the need to use new techniques like “story telling” in presenting such knowledge to the tourist.

As the second half of the morning programme “The Traveller” magazine, the official printed publication of the Sri Lanka Institute of National Tourist Guide Lecturers, was launched. We hope that this magazine, which contains many important articles and colourful photographs in a very attractive format, is published in accordance with all international standards and will help to carry the name of the National Tourist Guide to the world. Mr. Upali Ratnayake and Mrs. Tharanga Rupasinghe representing the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Mr. Nishad Wijetunga – President of SLAITO, Mrs. Anne Pitt – one of our sponsors, and former presidents of our institute Mr. Joe Livera and Mr. Bobby Senaweera were our guests of honour. Our Patrons Mrs. Yasmin Abeysuriya, Mr. Christopher Silva, Mr. Ravi Munasinghe and other pioneers of the institute also graced the occasion. The first copy of the magazine was presented to Mr. Bobby Senaweera by President Manoj Maddage.

After the lunch break, the Organiser Notebook for tour guides was launched. This notebook is to be issued from this year onwards instead of the annual diary of the institute. The introductory speech about this notebook was given by its chief editor Mr. Senaka Jayadeva.

As the final phase of the programme, the proposed free insurance scheme for the membership was introduced. Mr. Anura Hemachandra gave the inaugural speech and the representatives of Allianz Insurance Company explained the scheme to the audience.

To celebrate International Tourist Guides Day, a program has been scheduled at the SLINTGL auditorium on Tuesday 21 st Feb. 2023.

Beginning at 8.30AM with a lecture on ‘Foreign Influences on the Art and Architecture in the Cultural Triangle’by Prof.Raj Somadeva and following thereafter will be the launch of the new TRAVELLER magazine and Notebook/Organizer for NTGLS.

A new welfare/insurance scheme to benefit SLINTGL members will be introduced by Mr. Anura H. before conclusion of the days program.

Refreshments and lunch will be included.
Members are invited to participate. Please confirm your presence by filling out the google form on the link below. Please click here to go to the Google form

The National Council sub-committee on identifying short- and medium-term programs related to economic stabilization called a meeting in regard to the issues of the tourism sector on the 09th of December 2022 at the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, the chairman of the committee, headed the meeting and the Chairman of the Tourism Development Authority and other high-ranking officials participated in the meeting. Representing the SLINTGL, board members Mr. Sunil Geeganaarachchi and Ms. Isanka Gunawardana attended this meeting.
Our board members who participated were able to bring forward issues related to NTGLS such as salary increments, illegal guiding and illegal tourism activities done by foreign citizens. And these issues were taken as serious matters by the chairman.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Geeganaarachchi and Ms. Gunawardana for the hard work done.

The third of the series of scholarly lectures organised by the Educational Program Division of the Sri Lanka Institute of National Tourist Guide Lecturers was successfully held on the 23rd of November 2022 with the participation of a large number of members.

This lecture was delivered by Dr. Kalum Manamendra Arachchi, who is a specialist in biodiversity conservation, taxonomy, biogeography, paleontology, herpetology, ichthyology and osteology. During the lecture, direct and indirect effects of biodiversity and culture on the tourism industry were analysed in depth.

We believe that this lecture was extremely helpful in enhancing the knowledge of our general membership. We feel that the way Dr. Kalum Manamendera Arachchi generously shared his expertise with our members, who are settling their sights on the other side of the ocean called knowledge, was admirable and we would like to thank him for that.

On behalf of all the members, we would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Anil Munasinghe, Director (Training), who worked hard to make these sessions successful, and to our dedicated President, Mr. Manoj Maddage.