Hikkaduwa Ecotourism Camping Site Opened – Helping to Uplift Local Communities

Last month saw the official opening of the Hikkaduwa Ecotourism Project and community camping site which is hoped will help uplift the lives of local communities, with a special focus on women’s empowerment. The opening ceremony took place on 2nd March 2019 at the project site in “Sisira”, Thotagamuwa, within 30 minutes from The River House Balapitiya; this picturesque site beside the Hikkaduwa Lagoon is easy to reach for nature lovers staying at such a Sri Lanka boutique hotel in the region.

Initiated by the Sri Lanka Chapter of the South Asia Women’s Network (SWAN), it is billed as Sri Lanka’s first gender-based ecotourism project. Those who attended the opening had the chance to watch a special film screening on the Hikkaduwa Ecotourism Project, while other highlights included a tree planting session, a river safari and birdwatching tour. The project hopes to attract eco-friendly travellers as well as support rural women through sustainable development initiatives.