Guide book on Sri Lanka in Russian language debuts

Sri Lanka’s embassy in Russia has completed an innovative project to further promote Sri Lanka as the preferred tourism destination among the Russian people.

Under this project, which was ably supported by Sri Lanka tourism, they have compiled a Tourist Guide Book on Sri Lanka in the Russian language and two audio CD’s containing details of 21 places to visit in Sri Lanka.
The first copies of Russian Language Guide Book and CD’s were handed over to the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa and Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Rumy Jauffer by the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Russia Udayanga Weeratunga in Colombo yesterday. Acting Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Vipula Wanigasekara was also present at the occasion.
The tourist guide book, which contains 296 pages, includes the country profile, places to visit in Sri Lanka, hotel & other accommodation information, available leisure activities and emergency numbers.
The two CD’s will give the listener a detailed description of 21 places in Sri Lanka, where tourists would like to visit to.
Speaking here, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa appreciated the efforts by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Russia adding, “This guide book will help the Russian tourists to get a clear and proper understanding on Sri Lanka”.
He further said that based on this guide book, Sri Lanka tourism will take steps to produce guide books in other languages as well through the respective Sri Lankan diplomatic missions.   
Ambassador Weeratunga pointed out, “There’s a remarkable rise in tourists arrivals to Sri Lanka from Russia and it is vital to create proper channels for them to obtain necessary information about Sri Lanka”. He added, “It was the main reason to undertake the production of this guide book and audio cd’s”. He was optimistic that these productions will help the industry to attract more tourists from Russia.
The Ambassador Further said, this publication not possible without the support of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, especially the contribution of Rumy Jauffer, Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.  
Jauffer said: “This was a timely publication and it will also be published in the languages such as Chinese, Japanese and Arabic in near future for the convenience of the front office sales staff of tour operators”.
He disclosed that this guide book will also be available on Sri Lanka Tourism’s official website, as an e-guide book. “I take this opportunity to thank to the ambassador and his staff in Russia for their untiring efforts in this exercise”.
Sri Lanka Tourism says the Russian language guide book and 2 CD’s which were launched this morning will be issued to Hotels and tour operators from today onwards.