With mounting debts to pay from post-war reconstruction, Sri Lanka must now also contend with the repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. And as if all that were not enough, Sri Lankans are also reeling from the spiritual blow of losing Nadungamuwa Raja.

The elephant, which bore the main casket of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha in the annual procession of Esala (part of the 10-day Festival of the Tooth), in Kandy, died on March 7, at the age of 68 (or possibly 69).

“It is highly unlikely that there could have been any Sri Lankan who did not love this gentle giant for his majesty and tranquillity,” according to an article on the Sunday Island Online website. “As in ancient traditions, it is only a male tusker of remarkable physique that is eligible for bearing the casket of the Tooth Relic.”

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Nadungamuwa Raja was reportedly the tallest domesticated elephant in Asia and one of the few from the continent to actually have tusks: a fine creature to have borne what is believed to be Lord Buddha’s left canine.

“It is this majesty of this beast which prompted many Sri Lankans, especially the devout Buddhists, to place Nadungamuwa Raja up on a pedestal of sanctitude.”

The much-loved tusker leaves behind a tourism-dependent nation in turmoil. Although not the most pressing problem in a country where a foreign exchange crisis has led to fuel shortages, lengthy daily blackouts and the worst inflation in Asia (already at 15 per cent), the inability of tourists from eastern Europe to travel is nevertheless a huge concern.

“About 30 per cent of visitors this year were from Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Belarus, and the war is threatening to turn off that tap,” reports Bloomberg.

The newswire explains that “Sri Lanka earned US$3.6 billion from tourism in 2019 before the pandemic slashed that to less than a fifth two years later, official data show.”

And the tourism authorities have been doing their level best to bring back that cash.

“Hello again” beams the So Sri Lanka website, above the latest Covid-19 requirements for arrivals: fully vaccinated tourists are exempt from quarantine and, from March 1, from pre-departure Covid-19 PCR/Rapid Antigen tests. Partially vaccinated arrivals may “stay in a ‘Flexible bio-bubble’ with all facilities of the hotels made available and ability to visit approved tourist sites”.

Even those who haven’t been jabbed at all are welcome: “‘Not-Vaccinated’ travellers can still have a great time under the protection of the Tourism Bio Bubble for a duration of 7 nights/8 days.”

The little island that could have been Hong Kong

So keen is Sri Lanka for visitors to return, reports Xinhua, that tourism is to be at the front of the queue when the island’s dwindling supplies of fuel are doled out.

“Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has informed the Energy Ministry to prioritise the tourism sector when distributing gas and fuel as the country faced a shortage in both commodities due to a foreign exchange crisis. Minister Ranatunga held discussions […] so that the tourism sector could continue operations without any setbacks,” reports the Chinese news agency, which states that nearly 235,000 tourists have arrived in the country so far this year and almost 50,000 are currently in Sri Lanka.

“During discussions, Ranatunga pointed out that it was in the national interest to provide assistance to the tourism industry as the sector was one of the largest foreign exchange earners.”

You wouldn’t see the familiar trunk of Nadungamuwa Raja if you were to pay a visit to the Festival of the Tooth this August (tentative dates are August 14 to 24), but Sri Lanka would sure like to see you.

Sino Hotels promotes ‘33-hour work­cation’ package

The portmanteau words “workcation” and “workathon” look very similar when written down.

Destinations Known noticed this when we received a press release from Sino Hotels promoting a “33-hour work­cation” package available at Hong Kong’s The Pottinger and Gold Coast Hotel.

“Enjoy two work days and a restful night of stay for the price of one,” is the promise; a promise that – like those two words – jibes with our never-disconnected lifestyles.

After all, no one is likely to become a workathon champion without working through their vacation.

Thai app measures indoor air quality

Air quality is becoming an increasing concern, elsewhere as in Hong Kong, and tools such as the government’s Air Quality Health Index help us keep track of those places that should be avoided.

At least while we are outdoors.

Now, a company in Chiang Mai, Thailand – which has its fair share of bad air days from haze pollution – has come up with an app that measures and displays the quality of the air inside restaurants, gyms, shops and other buildings frequented by the public, reports chiangmaicitylife.com.

Using an AirCheck Business meter, businesses can measure the quality of the air being breathed on their premises and display the information on a screen set up for customers already at the venue or on a map in an Android app, for would-be customers concerned about their health. The meter works in conjunction with air purifiers made by the same company, AirDeveloppa.