Saturday, December 6, 2008


The history of tourism in Sri Lanka goes back to the nomadic age. In that age, people migrated from one place to another in order to earn a living and discover new places.
Today, the tourism industry has become a major foreign exchange earner for many countries including Sri Lanka. Due to its scenic location in the Indian Ocean, foreigners are attracted to the country.
Many well-known visitors like Marco Polo, Iban Bathutha, Robert Knox were inspired by Sri Lanka impelling them to write profusely on the `Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. Even today, tourists still throng to Sri Lanka in increasing numbers. One such admirer of our country is Prancesco Piazza who visits Sri Lanka for charitable services.
Prancesco Piazza hails from a distinguished family with origins tracing to the Karugathe town near Milano, Italy. Since 1975, he has made forty trips to Sri Lanka. During his trips, he has rendered social service activities by spending his vacation in a meaningful manner and then returning home with a sense of self-satisfaction, least unconcerned of any recognition. Though Piazza has travelled to many countries, he says that he loves Sri Lanka. "During my Thailand tour in 1974, while I was having dinner with friends and they told me fascinating stories about Sri Lanka". So taking his friends' advice, Piazza decided to travel to Sri Lanka and landed here in 1975.
Piazza said "I love Sri Lankan people and I am happy with the country's progress". During his first visit, he recalled that Colombo was still a developing city. Asked about whether the current situation in Sri Lanka has been a cause for concern for tourists, he said "I never think about the war situation here because I come to Sri Lanka without any fear". Further, he said that in the near future, we can expect to see peace in Sri Lanka.
He said that during his childhood, he has embarked on a career in education, encompassing countries like France, USA and more. With his travels all around the world for the past 32 years, he has taken an avid interest in spreading the message of education everywhere.
His charity in helping the poor and the needy to enhance their skills and knowledge through education has been well known. Piazza pledged that he will visit Sri Lanka again and assuring that "I will continue to do social services for as long as I can".

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