News
PM instructs CCF to introduce all-inclusive online ticket for tourists at archaeological sites
By Norman Palihawadana
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) officials to introduce an all-inclusive one online ticket for foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka to enter all the archaeological sites in the country.
The Premier also told them that terrorists were greatly inconvenienced when they were made to buy tickets at all sites. Local tourists too would be benefited if officials could find possibilities of introducing one ticket at a reasonable price, covering all museums in a particular archaeological site, he said.
He instructed officials to consult the Tourist Board and introduce the new online ticketing system.
The PM said so at Temple Trees after accepting the report submitted by a five-member committee appointed by him in his capacity as the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to provide recommendations for the restructuring of the CCF.
The committee was appointed by the Prime Minister to make recommendations in line with the national policy framework “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”, which states that “the Central Cultural Fund should be fully revised and restructured”
This committee, chaired by Director-General, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources S. J. Kahawatte, consists of Director of Management Services Department B. M. D. N. Balasooriya, Senior Assistant Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Priyanga Nanayakkara, Director of Information Technology Management Department D.P.C.E. Peiris and Assistant Director (Information Technology) at Department of Management Services, Ministry of Finance Madhushani Warnasooriya.
The Prime Minister accepted the report and stated that the implementation of these recommendations would enable the CCF to become a more effective institution in achieving its objectives in the future.
Gamini Senarath, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Prof. Kapila Gunawardana, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Attorney-at-Law, Ganesh R. Dharmawardena- Public Trustee of Sri Lanka, Senior Prof. Anura Manathunga- Director General of the Department of Archaeology and Prof. Gamini Ranasinghe- Director General of the Central Cultural Fund were also present at the occasion.
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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