Sustainability at the Heart of Uga – May 2022

Our ancestors were ahead of their time. They constructed vast lakes, developed sophisticated irrigation
systems, and turned sustainable agriculture into a science. At Uga we honor the traditions and sustainable practices of our forebearers.

At Uga, we connect travellers with serendipity and the authenticity of Sri Lanka, offering experiences with an aura of tradition and respect for the environment and the ancient culture that we feel privileged to bestow upon our guests.

Supporting Our Next Generation

Sri Lanka’s future lies in the hands of our next generation. Supporting the island’s youth is an important part of our CSR initiative. Uga Ulagalla is located in the rural environs of Anuradhapura, amidst the Cultural Triangle, where many local families are engaged in agriculture. In order to support some of the most vulnerable families, the hotel has recently donated 50 stationery packs to students aged between six and 15 years old from the local village of Ulagalla. The stationery packs were designed to equip them with essential items such as mathematical instruments, exercise books,
drawing books, pencils and pens.

Tourism is dependent on our communities and on the cultural and
natural heritage of Sri Lanka. As responsible hosts, we continuously
strive to contribute positively to the social and economic
development of the regions in which we operate.

Ethical Whale Watching

Glimpsing blue whales has become one of Sri Lanka’s key wildlife experiences. As we come into the east coast season, guests staying at Uga Bay and Uga Jungle Beach have the opportunity to encounter these majestic creatures on a whale watching expedition. We only work with ethical whale watching operators who can responsibly approach and manoeuvre around whales and dolphins, and who allow them the space to roam uninterrupted.

Women in the Workforce

Kovarthanarajan has worked at Uga Jungle Beach for over 10 years and is one of our longest serving staff members. A war widow and single mother to one daughter, she is a devoted and valued individual within our resort team. Having come to the hotel with no previous experience aside from a willingness to learn, her earliest roles were in gardening and landscaping before she joined (and later became a key member of) our housekeeping team.

Meet the GM

For Dushyantha, our Resident Manager at Uga Residence, second best is never good enough. “I do not settle for average!” he exclaims, “I have an eye for detail and I’m ready to help at any moment.” Prior to taking up his position at Residence, Dushyantha – a food connoisseur – spent many years in the Middle East perfecting his skills in hotel and restaurant management before finally returning to Sri Lanka in 2020.

Local Recipe: Karawala Risotto

At Uga, our chefs are constantly seeking out novel local ingredients to weave into their menus and fuse with international cooking methods. One key dish at Uga Chena Huts in Yala, is Karawala Risotto, flavoured with the strong, pungent flavour of dried fish. In the east coast, karawala, a type of fish, is salted and sun-dried until it forms a hard crust. The chefs use flakes of this dried karawala to flavour a traditional Italian risotto.

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will
save it.”
– Robert Swan

Uga Escapes Management Limited
49/16, Iceland Building,
Galle Road, Colombo 03,
Sri Lanka.
inquiries@ugaescapes.com
www.ugaescapes.com