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Economic downturn: Tourism as way out

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Outgoing President of the Institute of Hospitality Dr.Harsha Jayasinghe pinning the President's badge on President elect Ramesh Dassanayake at the 32nd AGM of the institution. Looking on is British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick

By Harischandra Gunaratna

Institute of Hospitality’s outgoing president Dr. Harsha Jayasinghe says that foreign tourist arrivals have increased by over 106 percent during the past financial year.

Addressing the 32nd Annual General Meeting of the UK-based Institute of Hospitality’s Sri Lanka branch in Colombo on Thursday (16), Dr Jayasinghe said that the country’s tourism upsurge could also be witnessed in the increase in the number of repeat-visitors. “Repeat guests are proof that a country’s tourism industry is performing well and of its high standards,” he said.

Jayasinghe said maintaining high service standards directly is the way forward as it impacts the quality of the guest experiences and the possibility of receiving repeat guests.

Tourism is the third largest foreign exchange earner for the country. The hospitality component of the industry accounts for about 13.3 percent of the total foreign exchange earnings. It has given direct and indirect jobs for 450,000 people.

Jayasinghe pointed out that if Sri Lanka could get a state-of-the-art conference hall which could accommodate around 5,000 pax, there would be a boost for the tourism industry.

“We have missed out some of the top conferences though the organisers showed an interest in hosting those events in Sri Lanka, Dr Jayasinghe said.



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Cabinet approves providing relief to the people of Myanmar

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The People of Myanmar are facing  immense hardships caused by the devastating earthquake  on 28th March  and as reported by the international media reports the death toll is over 2,700. Furthermore, it has been reported that many people are missing while, a large number of individuals have been injured and are receiving treatment.

Considering the long – term close relationship between the two nations as two Buddhist states, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to provide,

• A sum of United States Dollars One Million

•  Transportation for the dry rations collected by Buddhist clergy and other donors

• To have a group  of medical officers and health staff on standby for immediate departure to Myanmar if necessary

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Cabinet appoints ministerial committee to submit report on sanctions imposed on 04 Sri Lankans by the United Kingdom

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Attention of the Cabinet of Ministers have been drawn on the decisions taken by the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals recently, and have decided to appoint a committee comprised of three ministers  to submit a report with recommendations on the further measures to be taken after studying the facts in the regard and to empower the committee to obtain the service of any officer/intellect deemed to have subject expertise in the relevant field and considered essential.

The committee will comprise of :

– Vijitha Herath Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism

– Attorney – at – Law  Harshana Nanayakkara Minister of Justice and National Integrity

– Aruna Jayasekara Deputy Minister of Defence

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Revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme to be submitted for the concurrence of the Parliament.

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Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 17.03.2025 to amend the Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme by increasing the value of the benefits already being payed under the scheme.

The revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme has been published by the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2429/02 dated 24.03.2025.

Accordingly, he Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Policy Plannng and Economic Development to submit the said revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme to the Parliament for its concurrence.

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