Boat and Leisure Services at Major Sri Lankan Reservoirs Attract 30 Proposals

01st December 2010, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Thirty parties have responded to a call for proposals to operate boat and leisure services at major reservoirs in Sri Lanka, irrigation minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. An official said all the proposals appeared to be from local parties.

The government asked for proposals from private parties to operate boat services and restaurants at irrigation works connected to Sri Lanka's Mahaweli river development project.

The operators would be subjected to 30 conditions including environmental regulations and boats have to be powered by engines smaller than 15 horsepower.

Proposals were called to operate boat services and restaurants at newly built Kotmale, Polgolla, Victoria, Randenigala, Ulhitiya, Maduru Oya, Bowatenne and the Udawalawe reservoirs.

In addition Kandalama, Kala, Chandrika, and Iranmadu reservoirs which are so-called 'tanks' dating back from Sri Lanka's ancient irrigation related settlements were also opened for leisure activities.

Kandalama already has an up-market hotel operated by Sri Lanka's Aitken Spence group.

Several of reservoirs which are also used for power generation are located in picturesque hilly areas and were under tight security, with restricted public access, during a 30-year separatist war which ended last May.

The Iranamadu tank shot fame in the last stages of the war as being the place where expat Tamil Tiger separatists landed by seaplane after arriving from the Maldives.

Once the proposals are accepted the government was planning to kick off the services in January starting with the Victoria and Polgolla reservoirs in the Kandy district, an official said.

World’s Most Expensive Dessert is from Sri Lanka. The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence from Wine3 Restaurant of The Fortress Resort Hotel, Galle

www.zimbio.com

Sure your collectibles are worth a lot of money, but a dessert? Sri Lanka has great antiques to buy, and is certainly known for their Buddhist temples, but "The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence", which debuted in March, has brought delicacy and wealth to new heights. Its creation was inspired by the success of the restaurant's other gem-studded treat, the Bombay Sapphire Martini. Wine3, one of the resort's restaurants, offers the Indulgence for $14,500. Yes, I typed that correctly.

$14,500. What makes it so special? "The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence was created to give visitors at The Fortress Resort in the coastal city of Galle a one-of-a-kind experience," said Shalini Perera, public relations manager at The Fortress.

The dessert is a gold leaf Italian cassata flavored with Irish cream. It is served with a mango and pomegranate compote and a champagne sabayon enlighten, and is complimented by a chocolate carving of a fisherman clinging to a stilt, an age old local fishing practice.

But the crowning jewel, and I mean that quite literally, is the 80 carat aquamarine stone that rests on a sliver of chocolate shaped to resemble the traditional stilt fisherman that is part of The Fortress' logo.

Patrons are welcomed to pocket the gem after they polish off the delectable dessert. The hotel has had many inquiries about the item, one as far away as Japan.

Related Info:
Top 5 world’s most expensive desserts

First Restaurant to Use iPad for Menus is in Sri Lanka

13th April 2010, www.dailymirror.lk

On the opposite side of the planet to Cupertino, California is the island nation Sri Lanka, home to Nihonbashi Japanese Restaurants, the first restaurant in the world to use the iPad. Nihonbashi has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to restaurant design, creativity in foods and bringing to diners the cultural and gastronomical appeal of Japanese cuisine.

The half Japanese, half Sri Lankan owner of Nihonbashi, Dharshan Munidasa, a Johns Hopkins Graduate, watched the ipad launch from across the oceans while preparing content for the ipad; and now guests can browse through the menu and view the specials photographically. “Describing an original dish without a picture is tough and hard copies are time consuming and expensive,” says Dharshan as he prepares to use the ipad to communicate to guests daily specials. “No, you cannot order from the ipad,” he continues, as he’s strongly against automated ordering that erodes the relationship between restaurant and diner.

According to Dharshan, the ipads will also be used in the administration aspects of Nihonbashi operations as communications between team members and idea sharing will become easier, faster and more descriptive owing to pictorial representation- and all this without paper. Dharshan explained that the ipad will soon open up a new medium inwhich hotels, resorts, restaurants and banks especially can use as apromotional tool in advertising. With peace settling in the country after decades of war and tourism gathering momentum, Dharshan now wants to show the world that Sri Lanka and his restaurant Nihonbashi is a place where innovative ideas thrive and are not restricted to the Dubais or the Singapores of the world.

Wine lists, daily specials, guest comments and much more will formpart of the content found on the ipad allowing guests to email directly from their ipad comments or take part in surveys and lucky draws. Dharshan added that a special application will also be developed for this very purpose at a later stage. Trying to be the first in the world to introduce the ipad in arestaurant is especially hard owing to the fact that Sri Lanka is on the other side of the globe from the US. If Nihonbashi were based inthe US, Dharshan claims the implementation of the ipad could havehappened on the ipad launch day itself, but with a general election and almost a week of holidays, 9 days later can’t be too bad either.

Regina Margherita, One of Asia's Finest Restaurants, Wins Recognition in The Miele Guide 2009/2010

19th November 2009, www.biz.lk

Regina Margherita, Sri Lanka's veritable little Italy, recently won recognition in the Miele Guide 2009/2010 as one of Asia's finest restaurants.

The talk of Colombo from its very inception, the restaurant has never ceased to delight and capture the hearts of its patrons with its authentic Italian food and warm atmosphere. Enjoying a well deserved reputation for excellence and a rich experience amongst local customers with its credo for everything that is originally Italian - from cooking each dish in olive oil, to importing most ingredients (with the exception of a few vegetables and fresh seafood which is available aplenty in Sri Lanka) from Italy every ten days, to celebrated Italian wines and desserts - the restaurant has now received international recognition for finesse and distinction.

The life force of the restaurant, Barbara Avossa is a lawyer turned restaurateur hailing from Milan, whose hospitality, heritage and passion for authentic Italian food and life is reflected in the novel 'ristorante'.

"This has all been such an unexpected pleasure for me! When I received a letter 5 months ago from the Culinary guide, MIELE, claiming that they had visited Sri Lanka and shortlisted me for the award, I was truly surprised. I didn't know anything about it as they generally visit restaurants without introducing themselves. They explained that they had visited restaurants all over Asia and would be shortly electing the final few from those shortlisted to compile a list of Asia's finest restaurants. I almost thought it was a joke until I browsed through their site and realized it was all very serious. I didn't think I stood a chance because there were so many famous restaurants all over Asia that were included" she said with a laugh, her eyes shining with pleasure and pride.

The Miele Guide is Asia's first truly independent and authoritative guide to the region's finest restaurants. It is written by expert food lovers who know and love Asia, and is the first restaurant guide to measure the best restaurants in the region by Asian standards.

Asia's finest restaurants are selected by the region’s top restaurant critics, food professionals, prominent food lovers and the public after four rounds of judging which have been set in place to ensure that a credible, transparent system is used to showcase establishments that deliver true excellence and exceptional dining. Recently, Barbara received another letter from the Miele Guide congratulating her on winning a place as one of Asia's finest restaurants for 2009/2010, and being the only restaurant in Sri Lanka to do so. "By the time I received the letter, I had forgotten all about it as I was basking in the joy of my third baby girl. To say that I was shocked is an understatement - I just couldn’t believe that I had bestowed with such an honour! I was not able to attend the awards ceremony because of my new born baby, but I am truly humbled by this honour and am sincerely proud that I was able to place Sri Lanka on the map of international culinary merit."

Barbara went on to say that she would place her certificate in a place of honour to serve as inspiration. She teasingly adds that she has many exciting plans for Regina Margherita in the future that would serve to enrich customer experience by leaving them spoiled for choice of all that is best, and that she would continue to strive to provide exceptional dining and serve all good and great of Italy on a luscious platter of sensational taste and experience. Alla Salute!