The Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) is the pioneer "Ecotourism Society" in Sri Lanka, and was established in 1998. It is registered as a non-profit Tourism NGO at the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka and Central Environmental Authority (CEA), comes under the purview of Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources, Sri Lanka.
Eco lodge
Transform your idling beautiful land to a nature friendly ecotourism bussiness venture within 30 days.
Asia Pacific Regional Ecotourism Conference & Peoples Tourism Awards 2009
In celebrating the 10th anniversary of SLEF, we are planning to hold the first ever regional tourism and networking conference in ecotourism which will be exclusively focused on Community Based Tourism Enterprises (CBEs) in Asia-Pacific Region, ‘Asia-Pacific Regional Ecotourism Conference (APREC), will be organized by the Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF), in association with International and Regional Organizations, regional ecotourism associations and other international conservation organizations dedicated to promote ecotourism.
Symposium Report: What Can Sustainable Tourism Bring to Communities By: Masaru Takayama, Executive Director, Japan Ecolodge Association & Palitha Gurusinghe, President, Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation
Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF), the pioneer National Ecotourism Organization dedicated to promote Ecotourism Sri Lanka, has made arrangements to conduct series of Training Programmes on Nature, Adventure and Ecotourism from September 2007. It has successfully conducted similar Certificate Training programmes before, in association with Sri Lanka Tourist Board, for the National and Chuffer Tourist Guide Lecturers, Members of Community Based Tourism Organization, staffs of the national and international NGOs etc.
Media cover for GEC 07 and SLEF
Sri Lanka media has given a wide publicity to the GEC 07 and the SLEF. The reputed leading news papers in Sri Lanka such as ‘The Sunday Times’ , ‘The Daily Mirror’ ‘Sunday Observer’, ‘The Daily News’ has carried news and pictures related to the GEC 07, SLEF and Ecotourism in Sri Lanka.
Advisory Panel appointed by the Ministry of Tourism
Establishing
of a Community Based Tourism Advisory Panel by the Ministry of Tourism
Sri Lanka on the 4th June, 2007 is one of the most important
achievements of the Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation. During last ten
years the SLEF was tirelessly and actively lobbied for establishment of community based ecotourism projects in the tourism generating areas of Sri Lanka.
2008-2009
FK South-South Professional Youth Exchange ProgrammeBetween Sri Lanka
and Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA), Lao Peoples Democratic
Republic (Lao PDR) is being planned at present.
Work Shop on Promoting Good Environmental Practices for the Hotel Sector in Sri Lanka
Initiated and funded by Kuoni Travel Ltd, Switzerland and coordinated by Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF)
13TH DECEMBER 2007 MOUNT LAVINA HOTEL, SRI LANKA
The
Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) was very happy to be associated
with Kuoni Travel Ltd, Switzerland, the biggest Tour Operator in
Switzerland and number five in Europe, in conducting a Work Shop on
Promoting Good Environmental Practices for Hotel Sector in Sri
Lanka.
Sri
Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) in association with Mercy Corps Sri
Lanka has embarked on a new tourism promotion project based in
Hambantota District, Deep South in Sri Lanka. Under this joint project
a Travel Agency named Deep South Holidays to be formulated, funded and
guided by the Mercy Corp. The main Objectives and Goals of the Project
will be to promote Deepsouth for domestic and foreign tourists while
ensuring benefits for local communities and tourism sector enterprises
in the Hambantota district. The SLEF will develop and promote Deepsouth
tour packages for potential tourists both foreign, domestic, expatriate
community and academic sectors.
FOSTER PARENTS PROJECT (FPP) , DODANDUWA FISHING VILLAGE, SRI LANKA.
The
FPP is one of the Community Based Ecotourism Programmes initiated by
SLEF in March, 2005, just 2 (two) months after the tsunami catastrophe
in Sri Lanka, in December, 2005.
This
Project was generously supported by the foreign visitors who have
traveled in Sri Lanka under Sri Lanka Eco Tours (SLET), the supporting
business arm of SLEF. The FPP is located in Dodanduwa, a fishing
village located just a few kilometers from Hikkaduwa, the famous beach
holiday resort in Sri Lanka. Dodanduwa also severely affected by
tsunami and the fishermen completely lost their livelihood. Under FPP,
Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation is supporting the 28 (twenty eight)
school going children of the fishermen for the period of 2 (two) years
providing financial and material support on monthly basis. SLEF is also
planning to start cottage industries and ecotourism programmes for the
mothers and fathers of FPP by providing micro-credit programmes and
other economic benefits through ecotourism.
Community Based Ecotourism Enterprises (CBE) SLEF in association with Sri Lanka
Australia Natural Resource Management Project Ulpotha (Kurunegala, Sri Lanka)
Bird-watching Programme at
Kalametiya Lagoon, by a
CBE, Kalametiya (Hambantota, Sri Lanka)
Workshop session at CBE, Ulpotha
Latest News
Palitha in TIES Board
Palitha Gurusinghe, the President of the Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation, has been appointed to the International Ecotourism Society (TIES) Advisory Board recently.
Asia-Pacific Regional Ecotourism Conference 2009 (APREC 2009)
Organized by Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation, and Sri Lanka Eco Tours in association With Sri Lanka Tourism
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) believes that tourism –which has become one of the most dynamic economic sectors- is in a very good position to contribute to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) regarding poverty alleviation...
Akita International Symposium on Sustainable Tourism 13th to 18th February, 2008, Akita, Japan
Presenters and Resource Persons
on a filed trip to Ani Region Akita
An International Symposium on “Searching for Sustainable Tourism” was held in Akita International University, Akita, Japan, from 15-16th February, 2008. The symposium was organized by the Centre for Regional Sustainability Initiatives (CRESI) of AIU.
Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) promotes community based tourism at
the 'Deyata Kirula' National Development Exhibition - 2008
SLEF has been assigned by the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka, to promote Community Based Tourism and Ecotourism at the recently concluded 'Deyata Kiruala' Exhibition, held at BMICH.
Laos and Sri Lanka are
two countries that
have only begun
developing ecotourism
in the past 9 years, but
both have seen an early
success in the large numbers
of tourists keen to experience
the natural wonders of these
countries.
GLOBAL ECOTOURISM CONFERENCE 2007 (GEC 07) CONCLUDED SUCESSFULLY
Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation is happy to record that the GEC 07 has concluded successfully in Oslo, Norway, on the 16th May, 2007, with very positive outcomes.
Ecotourism Australia 2006 international conference and meeting of National Ecotourism Associations Around the World
Palitha Gurusinghe, President, Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) has been invited by the ‘Ecotourism Australia’ to represent Sri Lanka ecotourism. SLEF has been recognized as the ‘National Ecotourism Organization in Sri Lanka’ to take part at the Ecotourism Australia – 2006 International Conference and the meeting of National Ecotourism Association world wide.
Palitha Gurusinghe, President, Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation has been invited by the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) to deliver a Keynote Speech on ‘The Challenges in Running Community Based Ecotourism Projects’
