SLAITO elects new team at 42nd AGM

Wednesday, 8 June 2022 00:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando

SLAIRO new Chairman Nishad Wijetunga

SLAITO Immediate Past Chairman Tilak Weerasinghe

The 42nd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) was held at the Auditorium of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

The apex industry body recognised by the Tourism Act represents the inbound tour operator community or the Destination Management Companies (DMCs) community of the tourism industry. With a membership of over 240 companies that engage in promoting the island with an annual investment of Rs. 1.5 billion in overseas markets, they are responsible for and bringing in nearly 70% of tourist arrivals to the country.

A new committee of management was elected for the year 2022/2023,

President: Nishad Wijetunga – Wayfarers Ltd.

Vice President: Nalin Jayasundera – Aitken Spence Travels

Vice President: Bobby Jordan Hansen – Columbus Tours

Secretary: Charith De Alwis – Tangerine Tours

Treasurer: Nilan Wickramasinghe

Thilak Weerasinghe of LSR Travels joined the committee as Immediate Past President

Committee members: Mahen Kariyawasan – Andrew The Travel Company, Gayangi Weerasinha – Abercombie and Kent, Padmini Paul – Golden Isle, Nilmin Nanayakkara – Nkar Travels, Devindre Senaratne – Journeyscapes, Harith Perera – Acorn, Suren Ediriweera – Ceylon Tours, Bandula Vithana – Jetwing Travels, Nalaka Amaratunga – Walkers Tours, Darshana Cabraal – Tour Blue, Rohan Abeywickrema – Hawk Travels, Maxime Wickremasinghe – Connaissance, Sabry Bahurdeen – Classic Vacations

Tourism Minister Harin Fernando graced the occasion and addressed the membership as well as opened the forum to questions. The three Chairmen appointed in tourism; Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Priantha Fernando, The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chalaka Gajabahu and Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management Shirantha Peiris were also present and responded to questions from the audience.

Pix by Upul Abayasekara