Hon.Minister Prasanna Ranatunga reveals this after commencing the works of the Ministry of Tourism in the New Year.

The Government is expeditiously implementing a joint action plan with the Provincial Councils and Local Government Institutions to uplift the tourism industry. Hon. Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga states that a number of projects related to the tourism sector has been identified at the district level for this purpose.

Two officers each from the Ministry of Tourism and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority have been nominated for the implementation of this program in all the districts of the country. The Minister said that after the District Coordinating Committee submits the proposals identified by the officials through the Divisional Coordinating Committee to the Ministry, the Ministry and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority are planning to make the necessary allocations for this purpose.

He was speaking on the occasion of the commencement of works of the Ministry of Tourism after the Sinhala Hindu New Year 2021. The event was held at the Ministry of Tourism at the Asset Arcade Building, Colombo 01.

Hon.Minister, Prasanna Ranatunga further pointed out that the tourism industry has faced the biggest challenge in the world in recent times. With the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry completely collapsed. The tourism industry is now resuming. He said that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka had become one of the few countries to revive the tourism industry, due to the programs launched by the present government led by the Hon. President.

The aim of the government is to bring the tourism industry to a higher level than it was before the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Tourism and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority should work together for this purpose. The Central Government, the Provincial Councils and the Local Government Institutions should work together in the implementation of projects related to the tourism sector. Only one tourism development plan should be implemented in the country. The Minister pointed out that a joint action plan is being prepared with a view to achieving that objective.

Further, 99% of the tourism sector is dependent on the private sector. What the government needs to do is provide them with the support and favorable background that they need. Hon, Minister, Prasanna Ranatunga pointed out that it is not the policy of the government to obstruct the advancement of the tourism industry through laws and regulations.