Wild Glamping Gal Oya, a glamping property developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, received three awards at the SLTC Research and Innovation Awards 2025. These included the Outstanding Research Commercialisation Award for Environment and Sustainability Research, the Inclusive Growth Award for Socio-Economic Empowerment Research, and a Merit Award for Outstanding Research and Development.
The project was recognized for its approach to integrating environmental conservation, local community involvement, and research-driven development within a commercial hospitality model.
The property was conceptualized by Chandra Wickramasinghe, chairman of Thema Collection, and developed as a village-style glamping site adjacent to the Gal Oya region.
According to the organizers, the project drew attention for its engagement with the indigenous Rathugala Veddah community and its attempt to align tourism operations with cultural preservation and biodiversity protection.
“It was a big cultural change,” Wickramasinghe told Hiru News. “We had to work closely with the indigenous community. At first, they were not very receptive, and it took time for trust to grow. We lived with them, learned their ways, and showed that we were not there to take, but to protect what exists and create something enduring with nature.”
Also recognized at the awards was Amba Yaalu, Kandalama, which was cited for its women-led operational model within the tourism sector.
The property is described as Sri Lanka’s first hotel operated entirely by women and was acknowledged for its contribution to gender inclusion and workforce development in hospitality. The initiative was established to demonstrate alternative leadership and employment structures within tourism operations.
For operators in the outdoor hospitality and glamping sectors, the recognition highlights how research partnerships, community engagement, and clearly defined social objectives can support both award recognition and long-term operational resilience.
The projects illustrate how non-traditional development models—such as community collaboration and inclusive staffing structures—can be formally acknowledged within national research and innovation frameworks, offering potential reference points for campground, glamping, and eco-accommodation businesses evaluating future investment and development strategies.