Our Sustainability & Environmental Policy
Columbus Tours Pvt. Ltd. is a destination management company handling inbound and outbound tourism operations. We are a prominent tour operator in Sri Lanka promoting luxury tourism, and we will work hard to conserve and enrich our cultural legacy as well as the natural environment in which we operate.
We are committed to,
- To deliver high-quality services to our clients and partners, as well as to create and market sustainable tourism goods and services in Sri Lanka.
- Compliance with appropriate industry rules and regulations, as well as consideration of worldwide environmental standards
- To take the required actions to identify potential negative environmental impacts and to execute internal and external activities that will safeguard the environment and prevent pollution, negative environmental impacts, and the cultural identity of the local community.
- To carry out the essential educational and capacity-building activities for all key stakeholders in order to fulfill our Environmental Management System’s objectives and aims (EMS)
- Accept chances to share our knowledge in environmental and social development efforts with key stakeholders and collaborate with them to promote good environmental practices in Sri Lanka’s tourist sector.
- Engage with our top management on a regular basis to analyze our performance on environmental and social goals and create targets for continual development.
Plant a Tree
We could give every guest the possibility to plant one tree during his/her stay in Sri Lanka. By this, the CO2 from your travels can be offset and you help us with the reforestation of the Sri Lankan jungle.
- Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves.
- Tree roots stabilize soil and prevent erosion.
- Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rainwater, as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds.
- Trees create an ecosystem to provide habitat and food for birds and other animals.
- Trees reduce noise and the dust level in the air
Local Food Market Tour – Dambulla
One of the joys of traveling is visiting local markets. There is nothing better than shopping for the ingredients necessary for a family meal with a local. Markets hold the secrets of the culture, all the little bits and pieces that hold communities together.
These colorful market in Sri Lanka features a wide variety of local handicrafts produced and designed by local artisans. Not only would you be supporting the local community by shopping here but also, you will definitely find so many items that have very good value for its price.
Tea Plucking & Tea Factory Tour – Nuwara Eliya
Visit a tea plantation and a tea factory. Sri Lanka, Tea and Tourism are words which cannot be separated. Take a tour to the cold & misty hills that take pride of an ultimate tea tour, covering lush green blankets of tea plantations. Or just step into a tea factory processing the prestigious brand of Ceylon Tea, to observe a rich tradition kept alive up to date.
As you observe the hissing and swishing of machines, inhaling the heavenly scent arising from these facilities, make sure to end your day in style over a perfectly blended cup of pure Ceylon Tea. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory.
Pottery Making – Habarana
This experience provides you the opportunity to learn and understand the ancient Sri Lankan art of traditional clay pottery making. Visit a local village where many potters make their living. Learn the art of turning raw clay into the beautiful forms of pottery. Get to know how these objects enrich the villagers today and how pottery making in the local community has changed through the ages. Watch how pottery is framed using both the traditional method and modern method. Engage with the villagers as you sip at a herbal drink served in newly made clay cups. End your experience with a better picture about the local livelihood and the rural lifestyle.
Cutting Brass – Kandy
Kandy is famous for quality artistic brasswork in Sri Lanka. Experts in traditional brasswork live in Daulagala, Handessa, Pamunuwa, and Pilimatalawa areas in Kandy. They use wrought and cast techniques to produce different types of brass items. Bowls, tea sets, decorative items and ornaments are made especially by the wrought technique.Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Brass castings are done using clay moulds. First the model of the item to be casted is made using wax. Later, this wax model is covered with clay and the whole thing is baked so that the wax model inside the clay cover melts out leaving the clay cover as the mould. Then molten brass is poured into the clay mould to produce the item. This item is decorated and polished before sending to showrooms.
Temples/Schools Renovation Supporter
Help renovate local buildings and improve the lives of those living nearby during this flexible placement which is tailored according to your interests and abilities.
The work involves basic renovation, painting and artwork restoration and it is accompanied by teaching young monks at a local school. The village of Hanguranketha faces many problems including run-down temples and poorly staffed schools as well as lack of clean drinking water and frequent power cuts.
Beach Cleanups
With many social media trends supporting and promoting the limited use of plastics, we thought we would approach this topic with a positive outlook. Beach clean-ups are one of the most popular activities adopted by volunteer groups that include university and school students, various NGOs, activist groups, and even embassies. The latest trend is to do what you can to help clean the environment.
- You preserve our natural treasures
- You keep toxic chemicals out of the water
- You help the local economy
- You create a safer environment
- You make seafood safer
- You get some good exercise
Sea Turtle Conservation
The main purpose of the hatchery is to provide for the overall well-being of the sea turtles and increase their numbers through conservation efforts. This includes monitoring the mother turtles when they show up to hatch, preserving the eggs once laid from predators and poachers, providing a safe haven for hatchings to occur, caring for the baby turtles and releasing the healthy ones into the ocean and caring for sick and injured turtles by providing them with a clean environment and feeding them every day.
While these hatcheries engage in conservation efforts to support the sea turtles ecosystem, it is important to note that they also rely on contributions from tourists (who visit these hatcheries to learn about sea turtles) to earn a living as they receive little to no funding fromt the government to maintain their operations.
Fishing Experience – Weligama
Being an island nation, fishing is an integral part of traditional Sri Lankan livelihood and seafood has always featured prominently in local cuisine.
Choose one of our fishing tours to gain unique insight into the daily life of rural fishermen as they use expertise handed down through generations to reel in their catches for the day. Finish off your experience with a flavorsome feast of freshly caught delicacies from the sea.
Volunteer Teaching in a Rural Village School
Get an exciting volunteer study opportunity at a rural school in Sri Lanka. Immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture while supporting eager young minds on their educational journey. Share your knowledge and expertise in English or other subjects, and make a lasting impact on the lives of students and their communities. Engage in meaningful interactions with students, faculty and local families, to enhance intercultural communication and mutual learning. By volunteering in a rural village school, you will not only help empower education but also gain a deeper appreciation for the resilience of rural communities in Sri Lanka and of the temperature.
Dairy farm & Curd processing – Tissamaharama
This tour gives you the opportunity to experience a ins and outs of a dairy farm and learn how to make curd. Visit a dairy farm in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, where buffalo curd making is done as the main livelihood of most of the locals. Assist in leading the cows to graze or watch the milk maids at work. Try your hand at milking the cows and have a fresh sip of milk. Help the farmers to take the pots of milk to their houses and learn how to make curd in the traditional way. Finish off by snacking on a fresh pot of curd sweetened with treacle. This is Sri Lankan Traditional Experience.
Agro Village Tour – Bandaragama
Experience the peaceful charm of rural Sri Lanka with a Farm Village Tour in Bandaragama. Surrounded by lush greenery, this calm village offers a look into traditional farming methods and genuine Sri Lankan culture. Stroll through vivid paddy fields, marvel at the growth of tropical fruits and vegetables, and engage with friendly locals eager to share their lifestyle. Enjoy farm-fresh treats and refreshing coconut water straight from the source. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of village life, where every moment is a step back into a simpler, more sustainable way of living.
Project Orange Elephants
Take part in a transformational journey with Project Orange Elephants in Sri Lanka. Join conservationists in protecting large Asian elephant populations and their natural habitats. Participate in hands-on activities such as tracking, monitoring, and conservation efforts aimed at reducing human-elephant conflict. Immerse yourself in the rich biodiversity of Sri Lanka’s landscapes as you learn about the importance of human-elephant coexistence. Participate in community outreach programs and empower communities with sustainable practices and education on rhino conservation. By joining Project Orange Elephants, you will not only be contributing to conservation efforts, but you will also be creating unforgettable memories while making a positive impact on Sri Lanka’s wildlife. For more info: https://www.slwcs.org/
