Rescue of Dutch visitor tells the world how much SL cares for its foreign guests
View(s):The miraculous escape of the Dutch national L. Martin who fell from the World’s End cliff and the bravery of personnel who risked their lives to
The Dutch couple with their rescuers.
save him, could be considered as the best example to mirror Sri Lankan hospitality to the world, noted Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau Chairman Rohantha Athukorala in the presence of the Board of Directors of SLTPB and senior officials of SLITO this week.
Mr. Martin managed to survive a fall from a 4,000 foot tall cliff on the popular tourist attraction when he stumbled and fell over the cliff. Luckily he had fallen on a tree, which broke his fall about 130 feet.
“His amazing rescue from near death by the Army and the Air force while on a honeymoon tour in Sri Lanka with his newly-wedded wife Linda, is an indication of the care that Sri Lanka has for every single traveller, Minister of Tourism and Sports Navin Dissanayake said after visiting the site of the incident on the day it happened,” a media release from the bureau said.
Mr. Athukorala thanked Corporal Sudesh Lalinda who climbed down the cliff to save Mr. Martin risking his life and Corporal Wijewardena who joined Corporal Lalinda to assist his way to rescue the tourist.
The Sri Lanka Inbound Tourist Organisation (SLITO) rewarded the bravery of the soldiers with plaques of appreciation to recognise their bravery and commended their contribution made to enhance the image of destination Sri Lanka for travellers around the world.
Survivor Mr. Martin gave a very emotional speech to the crowd gathered at the felicitation ceremony expressing his heartfelt gratitude to Sri Lanka and the brave men who saved him. His wife Linda too voiced her thoughts over the whole incident.