VISIT LANKA BRINGS HOME THE IIFA's

This June 2010 as Sri Lanka prepares to celebrate her first year of peace, Visit Lanka, an exceptional travel agent and tour operator, has a pleasant surprise to share with us all. After months of meticulous planning and endless negotiations, the International Indian Film Academy awards (IIFA's) 2010 are coming to Sri Lanka. The IIFA's, the biggest entertainment event ever to be held in our emerald isle comes alive this summer, from the 3rd to the 5th of June. A year of peace is indeed a reason to indulge in celebrations that will undoubtedly change Sri Lanka forever. This June 2010 Sri Lanka will commemorate her peace in a truly fitting and deserving manner- with the royalty of Indian Cinema arriving on her shores for a weekend of entertainment in Colombo.

The International Indian Film Academy award is the first-of-its-kind of effort to promote Indian Cinema all around the world, thus reaching out to millions. This pioneering effort, spearheaded by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., India's premier event management and entertainment agency and the organizers of IIFA, marks the ultimate celebration of Indian Cinema by taking it to glorious pinnacles beyond Indian shores. As global cinema rapidly emerges, a prominent place for Indian Cinema has been carved out. IIFA constantly aims to showcase to the world the plethora of talent Indian Cinema has to offer. The IIFA Weekend and Awards consists of a vast range of fun-filled activities that will bring our country close to its favourite Bollywood stars. The highlight of the Weekend is the IIFA Awards Ceremony that honors the best of Indian cinema. Voyeurs from all over the world will come together to pay homage to Indian cinema, whilst millions more will sit back, relax and enjoy the live telecast of the festivities from the comfort of their homes.

As Dirk Flamer-Caldera, Chairman Visit Lanka states, the journey of the IIFA's to Colombo began in August 2009, when he was initially introduced to the Wizcraft team. Dirk recalls the time Visit Lanka spent convincing the Directors of Wizcraft to give Sri Lanka a chance at playing host to the IIFA's in 2010. 'We at Visit Lanka always felt that the IIFA Awards, being one of the largest media events in the world, would be the ideal event for Sri Lanka to help consolidate its position in the world, as a country at peace and now on its way up. Today, we are thrilled to be given the opportunity to proudly announce the role we played and the sense of accomplishment we feel in seeing the IIFA's being bought to life in Colombo,' Dirk proudly states.

The event will undoubtedly bring about a huge PR boost to the country - 'an enormous PR bonanza,' The PR mileage obtained by playing host to this magnificent event is valued to be well over $50 million; a rare treat indeed for Sri Lanka.

DailyMirror