• Calls on industry bodies to do away with personal agendas
• Requests SLAITO President Thilak Weerasinghe to meet her rather than running away from crisis
• Affirms she cannot be bought with fancy holidays, air tickets or bullied like previous chairpersons 
• Rejects all allegations on proposed Tourism Act

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando yesterday called on the industry bodies Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference, Exhibition and Event Organisers (SLAPCEO) to support the industry in crises rather than bringing disrepute to the country.

“SLAITO and SLAPCEO have been stirring up the industry stakeholders against me for the past two years and three months. The truth is a few organisations want to run the industry as they had been doing for the past so many decades, where just about 20 people will benefit, whilst there are over 40 associations representing the tourism industry. 

“These few people are concerned about the Board seats and not about the industry stakeholders,” she told the Daily FT in response to the article published yesterday titled ‘SLAITO says disappointed with Tourism Chief’.

She questioned the rationale behind SLAITO President Thilak Weerasinghe running away from the country, if he as the chief of a major industry body is concerned about the fellow stakeholders without resolving the burning issues they face. 

“I am fearless and I can meet the public at any given crises because I have no personal agendas here. But where are those that are talking about the industry today? The SLAITO President is not even in the country. Is that what tourism industry expect from their leadership? To run away from crises and challenges? 

“I have sent a notice requesting SLAITO Chief to meet me rather than issuing statements. The difference here is very clear. I am doing an honorary service for my country, but the few claiming that they are doing an honorary service representing the entire industry are here with an ulterior motive to secure a Board seat, so that they have a say and control of the sector,” she stressed.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chief called on the industry bodies to do away with their selfish agendas and think of the masses – the three million dependent on this important industry for the economic development.

“Support the industry rather than bringing disrepute to the industry as well as the country,” she insisted.

Fernando also categorically denied all allegations of the two industry bodies with regards to the proposed Tourism Act. 

“The Tourism Act was not personally pushed by myself. In 2006, when Anura Bandaranaike was the Tourism Minister, he wanted to bring in a new Act and again in 2015 the Yahapalana Government had it in their strategic action plan and had it documented too. The same type of people objected to it, in both those instances. 

“When President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made a recent visit to Sri Lanka Tourism, he inquired on the progress of the proposed Act and urged for it. So, it is definitely not my personal agenda, but a policy decision by the Government,” she explained.

She also pointed out that SLAITO claims would have been more valid if there were only one or two organisations under her purview and not all four institutions.

“If I was the Chairperson of one or two institutions and I wanted to merge them, then their argument of me having a personal agenda to get all the institutions under my purview would have been more realistic. 

“However, I was appointed the Chairperson for all four institutions from the very beginning and not even half way did I start the duty. The structure is also in line with the global best practices such as Australia, the Maldives, Singapore, Malaysia and so on,” she added. Fernando called on the two industry bodies and the rest of the affiliated associations to educate themselves on the institutional structures of other competitive tourism destinations and global best practices.

“The SLAITO and SLAPCEO has always managed the previous chairpersons, as they wanted him to dance to their tune. I cannot be bought with their fancy holiday packages or air tickets or any such offers or be bullied – because I am fearless. I think that is why they find me difficult to be dealt with,” she said. 

Tourism Ministry calls for support of all stakeholders; assures to facilitate essential services