Lanka hopes Sachin’s world record woos tourists

India will also play a five-match ODI series after the Tests.

“It will be an honour to have Sachin set the new world record while in Sri Lanka and we want our Indian friends to join in the joy of this historic event,” said the Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Dilip Mudadeniya.

Mudadeniya said the SLTPB would offer the Indian tourists an ‘individual price-based package’ that would comprise air fare, sight-seeing, accommodation and local transportation besides the cricket match tickets.

“We are having a package worked out in association with Sri Lankan Airlines which will make it attractive for the Indians to tour Sri Lanka during the cricket matches from next month,” he said.

Earlier this month, top Sri Lankan cricket stars visited India to woo tourists during the cricket tour that would include tickets.

Sri Lankan Cricket chairman and World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga was joined by Aravinda D’silva, Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumara Sangakkara to showcase Sri Lanka tourism with the cricket matches as the immediate attraction.

The players, along with senior Sri Lankan tourism board officials, had interacted with various tourism related bodies in Mumbai.

“India and Sri Lanka have many things in common, but nothing is as strong as our common passion for cricket. Sri Lankan are looking forward to witness Sachin breaking Lara’s record,” Manoj Gunawardene, CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines, said.

Sri Lankan Tourism officials see this as an opportunity to later multiply the number of tourists from the targeted 8000 Indian cricket fans they hope to attract during July and August.

Tourism officials have also made arrangements to organize a ‘night beach fiesta’ near Hikkaduwa beach, a well-known tourist spot on coral reefs, in Southern Sri Lanka, about 130 kms from Colombo.