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Air Lanka honours five top agents

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: At a glittering ceremony, punctuated by a colourful cultural show and service of sumptuous Lankan dishes at a hotel in Rawalpindi on Tuesday night, Air Lanka honoured its five producers for 1998-99.

The awards were given away by Dr Dharmaratna Herath, Regional Manager for West Asia, who expressed the hope that other travel agents in the region would follow suit and give a helping hand to the flag-carrier of Pakistan's very important partner in the Saarc economic sphere.

The top five agents given trophies and shields of commendation were Bonds Travel, Waljis Travels, Royal International Travels, Shakeel Express and United Travels located both in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Dr Herath told a large audience of colleagues from the industry, prominent commercial clients and a sprinkling of government officials that Sri Lanka was a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from Japan, Australia and Europe.

A large number of visitors from the sub-continent are attracted by the Adam's Peak as it is considered to be sacred because of the legend that it has the foot imprint of the first human being, Adam.

The two-hour cultural show had the 'Puja', most popular of the Lankan dances, presented by a troupe that had toured North America, Europe and Far East several times and won acclaim for its performances. Other dances that received long ovation were 'Spring Harvest' and the 'Elephant Walk'.

The cultural show and 'Food Festival' are to continue for a week.