Sri Lanka Twins Organisation aims to attract 4,000 tourists through Global Twins Festival

The world’s first-ever beauty pageant for twins will be held in Sri Lanka this year, as part of the Global Twins Festival organised by Sri Lanka Twins Founders Upuli and Chamali Gamage. Through this ambitious event, the organisers hope to attract 4,000 twin and non-twin participants. The event is endorsed by the Tourism Ministry and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

Last week, the organisers as well as partners addressed the media to provide more information on the festival. Islamic Republic of Iran Cultural Head Bahman Moazami was Chief Guest, while Tourism Ministry Secretary Chulananda Perera was Guest of Honour. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu and other invitees were also present at the event.

Speaking to The Daily Morning Brunch, Sri Lanka Twins Founder Upuli Gamage said 30 countries have confirmed their participation in the pageant thus far. While the final selection round for the local contestant for Miss and Mr. Twin will take place on 28 May, the festival will be held under the theme “Green globe for pure breath” from 24-31 July. In addition to the pageant, there will be a cultural festival, a business forum, and a music festival.

Gamage explained that Sri Lanka Twins was founded in 1993, and is the first and only organisation for twins in Sri Lanka. Seeing the work done through the organisation, Upuli and Chamali were made Vice Presidents of the Global Twins and Multiple Birth Forum. With this appointment, they decided to fast-track the events to be held in Sri Lanka.

Gamage said they painted a picture of present-day Sri Lanka to the Global Twins and Multiple Birth Forum: Sri Lanka, having experienced a lull in tourism, was finally seeing an increase in numbers. The country also tackled a dollar crisis. In addition to this, Sri Lanka doesn’t offer tourists a set purpose to visit the country annually, whereas India, for instance, attracts tourists annually for pilgrimages.

Gamage felt that despite tourist destinations being promoted, these were not reason enough for returning visitors. “We wanted to give foreigners a reason to visit the country with an annual, continuous event, which is why we thought of holding a Global Twins Festival in Sri Lanka,” she said.

Global Twins Festival

“Globally, there are many pageants, but this is the first time a twins’ beauty pageant is being held in the world, not just Sri Lanka,” Gamage said, before going into detail about the programme of the Global Twins Festival.

On 25 July, the festival will begin with the Global Twins Cultural Festival at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The objectives of the segment are to promote co-existence between different cultures around the globe and appreciation of others, overcome ethnic barriers, and unite globally. According to Gamage, countries like India, Australia, and Nepal will showcase their cultural acts, bringing the traditions of Asia, Africa, and Europe onto one stage. “This will create harmony between cultures, while also showcasing Sri Lankan traditional arts to a global audience,” Gamage said.

Twins pageant

On 26 July, the Global Twins Pageant will take place at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, and the organisers hope this event will be useful in gaining global recognition for initiating this concept as a world’s first, and will also attempt to break official world records. This is the highlight of the Global Twins Festival and is expected to shine the global spotlight on the country.

“The Global Twins Pageant is a concept by Chamali and I, just like the Cultural Festival. With the Global Twins Pageant, Sri Lanka will receive franchise rights because it’s a concept that originated from us. Indian, Australia, Nigeria, and many more countries have been informed to choose three finalists, who will travel to Sri Lanka, and thirty countries have confirmed their participation thus far,” Gamage said, adding that along with the pageant contestants, foreign media has also been invited for the event. This will ensure global coverage of the pageant, which would help promote Sri Lanka, even if our contestants aren’t crowned winners that night.

In terms of the local contestants, Gamage said the three Sri Lankan contestants will be chosen on 28 May. “Sri Lanka Twins has a membership of 28,000, and our members as well as non-members have been given the opportunity to apply since our press conference last week. We already have applicants, but have not yet begun the training process, which will commence on 22 February,” she said. Bellesza Models Director Shanith Fernando will be carrying out the training for the local contestants.

Forums

The Global Twins Festival will also include two forums in Kandy – the Global Twins and Multiples Birth Forum on 27 July and the Global Twins Business Forum the following day. 

Through the event on 27 July, the organisers hope to find the right solutions for educational, economic, social, sports, and health-related problems twins and multiples face across the globe, while with the business forum, they hope to build vital import and export relationships between participating and visiting countries in order to help make Sri Lanka an international hub for economic relations.

Products like spices, tea, gems, apparel, and even tourism attractions will be promoted at the forum, where foreigners will also be provided information on setting up businesses in Sri Lanka or investing in the country. The forum will also help both twin and non-twin entrepreneurs expand to global markets, make the right connections, and avoid fraud.

“We hope that within a three-year period, we will be able to hold the world’s biggest trade festival in Sri Lanka,” Gamage added.

Tourism and entertainment

Towards the end of the festival, participants will have the opportunity to visit various tourist destinations in the country; although Gamage showed interest in promoting locations that are often not visited during guided tours. This includes Sri Pada, for instance, and Gamage shared that she feels tour agents tend to take tourists to places that are easy to travel to, like the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, despite foreigners liking hiking and more adventurous travel as well.

On the final day of the festival, 30 July, the Global Twins Music Festival will be held in Colombo. Twins from various countries will take the stage to showcase their talents at this event.