Jetwing Vil Uyana – WTTC Environment Award Nominee

Posted by TravelKorner on April 10, 2014 in Destination - Asia, English | 1 Comment

Situated on three hectares of land, near Sri Lanka’s UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya, is Jetwing Vil Uyana. The resort surroundings are dominated by wetland’s flora and fauna, including half a hectare paddy for growing and harvesting organic  foods using traditional methods. 

Two hectares were re-forested using species native to the dry zone after the land had been totally depleted by slash and burn agricultural practices. Two years before the integration of 30 luxurious lodges, indigenous plants were planted to regenerate the wetland with flora to entice butterflies and birds to return enhancing the area’s rich diversity. Today 80 species of birds, 17 species of mammals, 36 species of butterflies and 21 species of amphibians flourish within the hotel grounds as well as rare and threatened Otter, Fishing Cats and Grey Slender Loris.

Sunela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s leading environmental architect, incorporated wood, granite, thatch and concrete to create simple lodges built on stilts over the lake and marshland interconnected by a network of wooden boardwalks. Vil Uyana is an environmental creation melding perfectly with Jetwing’s sustainable tourism principles. 

The Jetwing Eternal Earth Programme (JEEP) is the umbrella term used for all community and nature-based projects. JEEP is split into four sections – Community Outreach Initiatives, Sustainability, Eco Projects and Humanitarian Programmes. Consequently, Vil Uyana has implemented energy efficient measures, using a Green Directory to monitor environmental performance across ten specified key performance areas that include energy, water and waste. Monthly reports are prepared and an annual independent audit is conducted.

A second phase has now begun involving on-going community education projects such as ‘Trees for Life’ a forestation programme,  nature tours led by a resident naturalist, active partnerships with environmental researchers, students and academics. Ensuring the community has a cleaner, greener and highly sustainable future.

INFO BOX:

To book an experience at this beautiful place please visit their website Jetwing Vil Uyana

At the time of publishing Mid-May return flights between Frankfurt (FRA) and Colombo (CMB) are offered on www.skyscanner.de for 440 euros, then a two and an half hour taxi ride will cost between 55 and 61 euros to the resort www.airport.lk/getting-arround/taxi-rates.php, remember to always ask up front about taxi fares.