By Sanath Nanayakkare
Ella is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular destinations highly dependent on tourism. Today many tourism businesses are left high and dry because of the drastic drop in tourist arrivals to the area. However, tourism-dependent individuals and businesses in Ella breathed a sigh of relief yesterday on hearing the news that the Department of Railways has made arrangements to run an inter-city super luxury train – ‘Ella Odyssey’ – between Colombo and Badulla every Saturday from the coming weekend.
The Department of Railways will launch this luxurious train journey to facilitate the travel of more foreign and local visitors to the area in line with the instructions given by Bandula Gunawardena, the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media.The journey to Badulla, which is widely viewed as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world, is expected to help rebound tourism in Ella.
‘Ella Odyssey’ leaves Colombo Fort at 05.30 am every Saturday and is scheduled to reach Badulla at 3.55 pm. Every Sunday the train leaves Badulla at 09.50 am and reaches Colombo at 07.20 pm. The train stops at Gampaha, Veyangoda, Polgahawela, Rambukkana, Peradeniya, Kandy, Nawalapitiya, Nanu Oya, Haputale, Diyatalawa, Bandarawela, Ella and Badulla train stations.
During the journey the train is scheduled to stop at interesting sightseeing spots including St. Clair Falls, Great Western Railway Station, Elgin Falls, Pattipola Summit Level, Idalgashinna Railway Station, Demodara 9-Arch Bridge, and Demodara Bridge and tunnel.
People living in Ella told media yesterday that at least 75% of their businesses have collapsed with the drastic decline in tourist arrivals to the area mainly due to travel uncertainties emanating from fuel shortage.
“Our main source of income comes from tourism, tourism-allied trade activities and employment in the hospitality sector. Our livelihoods have constantly suffered from the Easter Sunday attacks, the covid-19 pandemic and now the restricted distribution of fuel. Foreign visitors don’t want to come here as they are not sure whether they can keep to their travel plans. We appeal to the authorities to bring about a solution to our predicament as our livelihoods have hit the lowest ebb ever. There is hardly any foreign visitor to be seen here. I think tourists are also sick of this situation.”
A restaurateur in Ella told the media that he was forced to terminate the service of about 28-30 staff that worked in his restaurant since the multiple crises hit the country. “In the best times for tourism in 2017-2018, there were 40 personnel on my staff and now there are only 10-12. I think 80% of livelihoods here in Ella are directly or indirectly dependent on tourism. This has been the worst period in living memory for the tourism industry. It’s up to the authorities to take measures to revive tourism and save jobs. In this context, I think the new luxury train journey to Ella is good thinking because it will be a great option for travel safety, convenience and affordable public transport connectivity to a key tourist destination of the country.”
