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Colombo Uni to inaugurate sustainable tourism unit
The Faculty of Arts of the University of Colombo is scheduled to inaugurate its Sustainable Tourism Unit (STU) today at 2:00 p.m. at the Senate Hall, College House, marking a significant milestone of the country’s tourism industry.
the university has said: Aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the establishment of the STU signifies a paradigm shift from unsustainable practices towards integrated, inclusive, and eco-conscious tourism development in Sri Lanka.
The initiative recognises the critical importance of evidence-based knowledge, data-driven insights, stakeholder awareness, and industry implementation of sustainable tourism practices.The primary objective of the UoC-STU is to serve as a knowledge hub, offering evidence-based insights, outcome-oriented training, public awareness campaigns and intellectual contributions to drive inclusive and integrated sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka.
“Prof. D. A. C. Suranga Silva, Coordinator of the Sustainable Tourism Unit, expressed his vision for the UOC-STU, under the direction of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo and the recommendation of the Dean, Faculty of Arts, emphasising the unit’s unique initiation and commitment.
“The ultimate aspiration of UOC-STU is to emerge as the premier centre of excellence, fostering innovation, sharing knowledge, and catalysing actions to propel Sri Lanka Tourism to the forefront of the global stage. This milestone inauguration sets a promising trajectory for the future of sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka,” he said.
To kickstart this endeavour, an Industry-Policy and Diplomatic Dialogue themed ‘The Future of Wisdom Enlightening for Sustainable Tourism Development’ will be held concurrently at the launch to mark the UNWTO World Tourism Day Celebration 2023.
This dialogue aims to bring together international and national organisations, including UNDP, ADB, USAID, UNWTO, SLTDA and the Ministry of Tourism, along with industry experts. Prof. Silva said by leveraging the expertise of 13 departments and multiple teaching units in the Social Sciences, the STU is poised to make a substantial impact on sustainable tourism development.
He also emphasised the pivotal role of Social Sciences in understanding human behaviour, cultural dynamics, and economic factors underpinning sustainable tourism. The unit’s motto, ‘Wisdom Enlightening for Sustainable Tourism’, encapsulates its commitment to integrating industry best practices and global standards into Sri Lanka’s tourism landscape.
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“Improve the quality of infrastructure and services provided to tourists visiting the country.” – President
President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized the necessity of providing high-quality infrastructure and services for tourists visiting Sri Lanka, as the country has gained significant international recognition as an attractive tourist destination.
Accordingly, the President instructed officials to pay special attention to this matter and take necessary actions.
President Disanayake issued these instructions during a discussion held today (17) at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Tourism.
During the discussion, officials briefed the President on the budgetary allocations designated for the Ministry of Tourism and the projects being implemented under those funds.
With the tourism sector taking a new step forward, Sri Lanka aims to attract three million tourists this year. The discussion also extensively covered the utilization of these budgetary allocations for the development of essential infrastructure to support this goal.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Foreign Employment Vijitha Herath, Deputy Minister of Tourism Dr. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, along with a group of senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, attended this discussion.
The French Navy Ship PROVENCE arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on Sunday (16 Mar 25) morning.
She was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with the time-honoured naval traditions.
The 142.20m long Destroyer is Commanded by Captain Lionel SIEGFRIED and manned by a crew of 160 members.
During the stay in the island, crew members of PROVENCE will visit some tourist hotspots in the country and the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 20 Mar.
The Court of Appeal this [17] morning dismissed the writ petition filed by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, seeking an interim injunction to prevent the execution of the arrest order issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court against him.
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