Local journalists discover Colombo through Mihin Lanka |10 December 2013
Lanka Hospital – there’s a helipad on top
Panchikawatta street, the place to shop for vehicle spare parts
A group of Seychellois journalists from major national media houses recently spent some days in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on a familarisation tour organised by Mihin Lanka, the Sri Lankan airline which made its inaugural flight here on November 16 to officially launch direct flights between Sri Lanka and Seychelles.
From take-off at the Pointe Larue International Airport to touchdown at the Bandaranaike International Airport, the local media group were given high-class treatment on board.
Mihin Lanka is Sri Lanka’s low cost airline which has been in operation since April 2007 and has a fleet of one A320 and two A321 Airbus aircraft.
From its inception the airline has set itself apart and continues to offer a wide scope of facilities and services unlike any other low cost carriers in terms of services.
Mihin Lanka is the only low-cost carrier in the world that offers a complementary meal on board to all its passengers. But they are of course free to opt for an upgrade in their meal and can choose from the menu of delicacies found on Mihin Lanka website. An exciting range of kids’ meals are also available to purchase. Passengers also have the choice of purchasing alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages served together with snack and other treats and also a range of interesting duty free items available on board. When booking a Mihin Lanka flight,passengers will be amazed to discover that apart from the 20kg and 7kg as hand luggage allowed respectively, the airline also offers incentive baggage allowances from competitivairports such as Dubai, Bahrain and Dhaka.
Mihin Lanka codeshares with Sri Lankan Airlines on a number of destinations in the Middle East, Indian sub-Continent and the Far East. The airline is at a leading level among the world’s low cost carriers. Sharing the identity and purpose of being truly Sri Lankan, Mihin Lanka as a true ‘people’s airline’ is certainly ‘Yours to Fly’.
As soon as we were ushered in our hotel, we were immediately impressed by the unique characteristics that personify the island of the friendly people. As was the case on the Mihin Lanka flight, the hotel staff also portrayed the Sri Lankan friendliness, professionalism and warm hospitality in every aspect of their service.
State-of-the-art hospitals
The real work of the media group really kicked off with a visit at Lanka Hospital in Colombo, formerly called Apollo Hospital, which offers a world class health care experience. Now running as a semi-government hospital, their specialist ‘one stop’ centres of excellence provide an easily accessible and friendly service. Consultations are supported by a range of diagnostic services, state-of-the-art equipment and specialist professionals in a comfortable and a discreet environment. Lanka Hospital provides the highest standard of clinical skills and nursing care across a wide range of specialities, in association with leading specialist doctors and surgeons from across Sri Lanka and the world. Lanka Hospital’s commitment is to provide the very best of medical care at the most affordable rates. The hospital is also equipped with a helipad on the top of its roofs.
The Central Hospital in Colombo also has state-of-the art technology
The next stop of the visit was at the Central Hospital in Colombo which opened its doors in April 2010. The journalists were also in awe of the health services and facilities available there. The hospital, which is the latest one in the capital, has set up the first stroke management unit in the private sector and the only hospital in Sri Lanka that has the PET scanner equipment which can detect early cancer cells. The Central Hospital specialises in neuro-sciences and is equipped with the latest medical facilities which can cater to any emergency in that field. The hospital possesses 12 ultra-modern operating theatres, theatres for neurosurgery, maternity, orthopedics, ophthalmology and genitourinary. It also has a sophisticated haemodialysis unit.
It must be noted that these two hospitals complement each other in health care services offered and are not in competition. For example as the Central Hospital has the only PET scan machine in the country, Lanka Hospital makes use of it when there’s a need. This situation works both ways.
Traditional village
In Kotte, once the seat of the kings and the centre of poets and artists and within the sight of the National Parliament lies ‘Ape Gama’, a replica of the villages of yesteryear in Colombo. At that time society was managed as an agro-economy with flourishing traditional industries and the inhabitants lived a simple life with contentment.
Apé Gama is a traditional village with daubed-watted and thatched houses, tree houses with ladders to climb, paddy fields, a tank with a sluice gate and much more. In the flora and fauna section of the village there are endemic species of plants where there is also a herbal medicine spa. Endemic animals such as pythons, spotted deer and cat snakes of Sri Lanka can also be seen there. While visiting, the journalists got the chance to see a village man drinking traditional herbal energy drink, ‘villagers’ playing traditional drums and other musical instruments and a lady cooking red rice in an old cooking pot on open fire.
Cool bargains
Due to the strength of the Seychelles rupees against the Sri Lankan rupees, Seychellois can get good bargains in Sri Lanka on various products and services.
If you are looking for vehicle spare parts, one of the recommended streets to go to in Colombo is Panchikawatta, a renowned place for auto spare parts. There you can buy old or new – just ask what you want and there they are! But there are also sole agents for Mitsubishi - Associated Motorways, United Motors, Kia Motors, Stafford Motors, Sathosa Motors, Toyota Lanka. But the spares are available at cheaper prices at Panchikawatta.
Shopping and entertainment
It was not all work and no play in Colombo for the visiting local media group. Shopping, trips to the casino and visits to nightclubs were also on the agenda. This was a chance to experience Colombo’s nightlife. Shopping in Colombo are for all pockets. If you have rupees to spend Odel, House of Fashion, Crescat Boulevard, Majestic City to name a few are the shopping places for you. And brands such as TK Maxx, Zara, Monsoon, Atmosphere, Hugo Boss, Armani, GAP are also there. For budget travellers Pettah market is a very good choice as it offers very good deals and it is also a wholesale market.
Some may be of the opinion that Sri Lanka is poor or those ‘dirty’ little shops as they call them are still too numerous there. But one should also be aware that Rome was not built in a day and when a country is developing should it get rid of all its cultural heritage, traditions, culture and identity along the way? Food for thought! After years of civil war and a few years since peace was re-established, Sri Lanka has achieved and is still achieving great things.
Booming economy
Apart from sophisticated and specialised health care mentioned before, Sri Lanka’s other sectors of the economy like maritime, fisheries, education and Information Technology to name a few, are of world class and can also be explored by Seychellois nationals. It’s all there for everyone to see and facts and figures speak for themselves.
Speaking of great things happening in Colombo or in Sri Lanka for that matter, I cannot end my story without mentioning the newly-opened 25.8 km Colombo-Katunayake Expressway in October this year which links the Bandaranaike International Airport and Colombo. This link will help boost the country’s economy in addition to providing pleasant travel. It has also reduced travel time between Peliyagoda and Katunayake from 1.5 hours to 20 minutes.
Ayubowan from Mihin Lanka!
Partial view of Colombo seen from the top and man drinking Beli Mal (flower) energy drink in coconut shell at Ape Game traditional village (photo top right)