Staff lay-offs inevitable if no Government financial assistance forthcoming: SLAITO

• Renews appeals for interest-free loans with 3-year repayment period
• Hopeful of positive response from Govt.
• Warns part of 4,000 jobs on the line

The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) yesterday said it would be compelled to lay-off some of its staff if the Government failed to provide an interest-free loan scheme for the industry to pay back in three years.

“We have over 4,000 employees working for Destination Management Companies (DMCs) in the country at present. We have requested the authorities for an interest-free loan facility to pay six months’ salaries for our staff, which will be repaid in three years,” SLAITO President Mahen Kariyawasam told Daily FT.

With the World Health Organisation (WHO) announcing COVID-19 as a global pandemic, the association has lobbied its financial concerns to the Government via the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) last month.

“We are still awaiting a favourable response from the Government for our request. However, if the financial assistance we require is not forthcoming, the DMCs will be compelled to lay-off some of their staff,” he added.

Kariyawasam said although the March salaries for these 4,000 employees had been paid, going forward it was extremely difficult to sustain the same with no business and no financial assistance from the Government.