Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Buddhika Hewawasam, has assured that Sri Lanka has the necessary infrastructure to meet the government’s target of attracting three million tourists to the country this year.

Speaking to the media, Hewawasam said the SLTDA is taking steps to streamline the process of investing in the tourism industry and is addressing the issue of foreigners running businesses in Sri Lanka while on tourist visas.

Hewawasam said that many tourist hotel rooms in Sri Lanka are not documented in government censuses, although they are catering to tourists. He added that, when combining both regulated and unregulated accommodations, there are sufficient rooms to meet demand.

“We do not intend to shut down illegal operations but aim to regulate them. By obtaining legal status, these businesses can benefit from certain government services,” he said. He also said that if businesses refuse to comply with regulations, authorities will take legal action.

Hewawasam expressed concern over the concentration of accommodation developments in existing tourist hotspots, rather than in locations with potential to become new tourist destinations. “To address this, we need to attract more investors. Government-owned lands earmarked for tourism are being placed under a land bank to simplify the investment process. The Tourism Development Authority is also facilitating the issuance of licences and permits to investors,” he said.

The SLTDA, he added, has an investment relations unit which is being digitised to further enhance efficiency.

Addressing the issue of foreigners operating businesses illegally while on tourist visas, Hewawasam said several such individuals on the southern coast had already been arrested, with some deported. “If a person on a tourist visa takes up employment or operates a business, they are no longer a tourist, regardless of their country of origin. We rely on tourism professionals and locals to report such cases and urge them to continue doing so.”

Hewawasam said the SLTDA is conducting operations in Unawatuna, Bentota, and Mirissa to address the issue and plans to expand these efforts across the country. “We have reached an agreement with the Acting Inspector General of Police and the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police overseeing the Tourist Police to assign two officers specialising in tourist policing to all police stations in tourist zones.”

He added that a centralised unit for tourist policing will be established, and the SLTDA has sought advice from the Attorney General regarding setting up a unit within the authority to pursue legal action against such individuals.