The Sri Lankan Embassy in Austria, together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) celebrated World Children’s Day in style, with an attractive kite festival with the participation of large number of children in Austria and Sri Lanka at Steinhofgrunde, Vienna, on 1 October 2020.

The celebrations paved the way for children to actively participate in painting kites in a colourful and artistic manner, illustrating and depicting the scenic beauty of Sri Lanka. This enabled them to bring out their creativity and artistic skills as well, and create their impression of Sri Lanka.  The Steinhofgrunde park in Vienna is a famous venue for outdoor children’s activities and this event attracted a large number of local Austrian nationals at the venue. There were kites, play items of all different shapes, sizes and colours, which created an attractive atmosphere altogether. The event was enjoyed by both young and adults alike, having the opportunity to involve themselves by helping the young participants. The visitors also got an opportunity to taste some Sri Lankan refreshments provided at the event, which included a sumptuous range that tantalized the visitors taste buds. The event had a variety of activities scheduled to keep the young participants interested and they participated with much enthusiasm in each event. 

Young and old enjoyed flying kites and playing with the pinwheels and balloons decorated with the “So Sri Lanka” brand promoting Sri Lanka as a potential tourist destination among Austrian public. The celebrations created a truly Sri Lankan ambiance capturing the true essence of the special relations between Sri Lanka and Austria and showcased social cohesion and high level integrity of Austro-Sri Lankan children with Austrian community. This initiative taken by the Sri Lankan Embassy together with the SLTPB provided an opportunity to the visitors to keep aside their COVID   worries and liven up at least for a short while. So Sri Lanka brochures, leaflets and souvenirs were also circulated among the visitors, to give them an experience worth cherishing. 

It was refreshing to know that Sri Lanka was continuing with its destination promotional activities to keep up with the effort to encourage tourist arrivals once again to the paradise island, at a time when the global tourism industry has faced a challenge in bringing back the tourism sector to its normal status again. It is ensured with its world class health care system and the strict health protocols; tourists may be assured the best of safety during their stay in the country.