Any stretch limousines in Sri Lanka? Sri Lankan Tourism authorities got an unusual request recently for several dozen limousines to transport Bollywood stars during the mega International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Colombo next month.
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| Dileep Mudadeniya |
With limousines unavailable here, the stars will now go in Mercs (Mercedes Benz), Chryslers, Rolls Royce and BMWs. The IIFA is India’s version of the Hollywood Academy awards and the city is Colombo is being spruced up for the event with roads being redeveloped, pavements remodelled and roundabouts designed with grass and flowers for the event.
Colombo is pulling out all the stops for an event which has been likened to the 1970s’ Non Aligned (NA) Summit in Colombo which drew world leaders like Libya’s Muammer Gaddafi and India’s Indira Gandhi.
Although the type of personalities are different – world leaders compared to film stars, leisure industry analysts said the kind of organisation required is similar - roads being redone; facilities being redone (new set of apartments built for the NA Summit to house delegates while the Sugathadasa Stadium is being prepared for the event) and many luxury vehicles being assigned for the event; special train shuttle from Katunayake airport to Colombo for IIFA delegates, etc.
“We don’t have limousines but the organisers agreed to other super luxury cars and we sent out a public appeal recently and was able to get 60 super luxury cars,” said Dileep Mudadeniya, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourist Promotion Bureau.
Following this week’s press conference in Mumbai by IIFA organisers and the Bureau which drew stars like Salman Khan, another media briefing is being held in Delhi next week, he said. |
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