News
Modern road network essential for development of tourism – Johnston
Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday (15) that there was a mutual relationship between road infrastructure and tourism development as the latter could not be improved without a proper road network in the country.
Speaking during a meeting held at the Ministry of Highways, the Minister said that due to the absence of roads, or the poor condition of the existing roads and the low level of road safety, in some tourist destinations there might be a decrease in tourist traffic. That meant a developed tourism should be preceded by a developed road infrastructure.
The Minister said that the tourism industry was a main revenue generator for Sri Lanka. Today, the impacts of road infrastructure on tourism and vice versa were more visible than ever before. The road network in all areas should be improved in an expedited manner to cater to the needs of the tourism industry when it picked up soon again after ongoing pandemic situations and relaxing of some health regulations.
Minister Fernando directed Secretary to the Ministry R.W.R. Pemasiri to provide a detailed report on the conditions of roads connecting the airports, the main cities and major tourist attractions such as the famous beaches, historic places, waterfalls, jungles and forests. Tourism influences road infrastructure through intensive construction and modernisation of the road network, increase and modernisation of means of transport, increase in the number of passengers and goods, as well as the introduction of new forms of transport organisation. The development of road infrastructure in tourism affects the mastery of long distances, reducing the duration of travel for tourist purposes.
Minister Fernando said that through a developed road network, it was possible to physically own long distances from markets in the origin-destination relationship, so the destination through a quality road network became easier to access, better organised and more attractive, better positioned, and the most famous.
Among those present at the meeting were Chairman of the Road Development Authority Chaminda Athaluwage and Director General of the RDA Sardha Weerakoon.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
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