| About Sujeewa. |
Sujeewa is a Sri Lankan by birth but moved to Switzerland in 1987 where he lived for 18 years. During his time there Sujeewa completed his Hotel Management Diploma in Montreaux and soon after met his future wife and business partner who he was to run a restaurant together with successfully for 15 years. In 2005, inspired by the beauty of Victoria Golf Course and its wonderful opportunities for golfing, Sujeewa and his wife moved to Sri Lanka where he took up the position of manager at Clingandael, a beautiful five-bedroom Dutch villa overlooking the Victoria Reservoir and Knuckles Mountain Range, and made his residence a very short distance away; at the 4th hole of the Victoria Golf Course!
An avid golfer, Sujeewa lives and breathes golf! Having taken up golf whilst in Switzerland, he represented a regional team and plays with a handicap of three. “There is nothing like Victoria (voted as one of the 100 most scenic golf courses in the world). Where ever you travel in the world you will find a golf course situated in the most stunning part of a country. Playing golf for me is one way of discovering the inner, hidden beauty of a country whilst also meeting interesting people from around the globe.
“A golfer's prime difficulty is usually in booking a tee time, which causes stress at the beginning of the game; but this does not happen in Sri Lanka. Despite this island’s wonderful golf courses, tourism is undersubscribed making it one of the most enjoyable and relaxing places to play golf in the world”.
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| An Interview with Sujeewa |
| Why should people come to Sri Lanka? |
| For new cultural experiences; to embark on an exciting adventure through a great many terrains, altitudes and scenes; as well as for some of the most scenic and relaxing golfing in the world. |
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| Three absolute Sri Lankan musts? |
| Horton Plains, Trincomalee Harbour and the Cultural Triangle. |
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| Favourite walk? |
| Any walk or stroll within the 534 hectares of unspoilt countryside at the Victoria Golf Club will reward you with views over beautiful verdant scenery and glimpses of tropical wildlife. |
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| Best restaurant? |
| Chesa Suisse serves excellent Swiss cuisine in the heart of the capital, Colombo. The meat dishes are especially good.
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| Top thrill? |
| When you play under your handicap at golf. It’s the best feeling! |
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| Best place for an escape? |
| The Hill Country town of Nuwara Eliya for its salubrious climate, holiday atmosphere and for its wonderful mountain scenery that you can explore on foot. |
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| Top location for an adventure? |
| Meemure in the Knuckles Mountain Range is one of the most remote and ancient villages in Sri Lanka. Here you have the opportunity to interact with local villagers, watch them at work, explore the breathtaking scenery and look out for wildlife living in the Knuckles. |
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| Most beautiful beach? |
| The beaches of Trincomalee - Nilaveli especially for its deserted swathe of white sand and excellent snorkelling opportunities - because they are so unspoilt. |
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| Best festival? |
| Definitely the Kandy Esala Perahera because it exhibits many old traditions of Kandy, little seen elsewhere. |
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| What makes Sri Lanka unique? |
| The fact that for a small island it has a varying climate and a wonderful variety of such different scenery. It is also unique because there are people of four religions living together side by side. |
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| You are going on a Sri Lanka road trip with three celebrities, who would you choose and why? |
| Stephen Spielberg to tell me all about his new movie; Michael Jackson to provide musical entertainment; and Tiger Woods to partner me on the golf course.
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| List a few Sri Lankan travelling essentials? |
| Whilst mosquito spray and Imodium tablets are essential, you should always wear a smile. |
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| Dos and don’ts? |
| Do smile; don’t be in a hurry – get used to the relaxed Sri Lankan pace of life. |
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