සංචාරක කර්මාන්තය ආශ්‍රිත සංගම්වල නියෝජිතයෝ ජනපති හමුවෙයි

Newswire and Newsfirst report that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake led a discussion on the Ministry of Tourism’s 2027 budget proposals at the Presidential Secretariat on the afternoon of October 28. Newswire says the meeting reviewed the progress of individual promotion projects, operational difficulties and possible near-term responses.

Newswire reports that the proposals included a tourism development project focused on Dutch-era ports in Jaffna, Mannar and Batticaloa, with the President stressing that historical heritage should be protected as work proceeds. The same outlet says participants discussed marine tourism, funding arrangements to maintain projects launched the previous year, improved port facilities for cruise tourism, and promotion of Anuradhapura, Mihintale and Kandy around Buddhist learning and spiritual travel.

Newswire reports that the project review also covered eco-tourism destinations and the Southern Mist project in the Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces. The outlet says participants considered expanding ministry-led entrepreneurship education and training, creating tourism degree courses, strengthening Tourist Police services for visitor safety and assistance, and expanding domestic air links to support tourism in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Newswire and Newsfirst report that the President met tourism industry association representatives at the Secretariat on the morning of October 28 to discuss the 2030 goals of US$10 billion in tourism revenue and five million visitors. Newswire reports that discussion included domestic air services to Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Sigiriya and Jaffna, and ways to increase the number of airlines serving Sri Lanka to 50; it says 10 new international airlines began flights to the country this year.

Newswire reports that participants discussed using national parks to support tourism while protecting forest resources through laws and regulations, and reviewed ongoing international promotional campaigns. It also says they considered requiring hotels and accommodation providers to register with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, and regulating businesses run by foreign nationals outside prescribed legal procedures. The meeting included Labour Minister and Deputy Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, senior presidential official Roshan Gamage, and tourism association representatives, including Sri Lanka Hotels Association President Ashoka Hettigoda and Resorts Association Vice President Eksath.