Enterprise, environment, heritage and culture and a case study on Kandalama

Overwhelming interest is being shown for the seminar on ‘Public Private Partnerships in Tourism’ being conducted by the Sri-Lanka Poland Business Council, in association with the Thought Leadership Forum.

Scheduled for Thursday, 2 June 2011 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Cat’s Eye Ball Room of the Ceylon Continental Hotel, the seminar has been carefully designed with public and private sector personalities, persons with hands-on experience in projects like the Kandalama Hotel, as well as specialists in heritage and culture.

Malraj Kiriella, Director, Research and International Relations will speak on ‘Public Sector Perspectives – National Policy, Tourism Sector Policies & Opportunities,’ while Anura Lokuhetty, President, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka will speak on ‘Private Sector Perspectives – Challenges & Policy Expectations’.

B. H. R. Sariffodeen, who was a pioneer staff member of the world famous Kandalama Hotel and who served as its General Manager for six years, now an Assistant Vice President of Aitken Spence Hotels, will speak on the topic ‘Enterprise vs. Environment – The Balance’.

His presentation will include a segment titled ‘Kandalama – A Case Study’. Dr. Hema Goonatilake, a specialist in Asian Culture and Heritage will speak on ‘Protecting our Heritage and Culture – The Challenge’.

Dr. Goonetilleke holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and served as a gender expert at the United Nations, New York and Cambodia and as Senior Advisor to the Government of Cambodia in University education and Buddhist affairs. She was awarded the title ‘Sahamitra’ in Cambodia, the highest honour given to foreigners. Back in Sri Lanka, in 2005, she founded the ‘Red Lotus Organisation for Humanitarian Assistance’.

Ranel T. Wijesinha, Founder of the Thought Leadership Forum, who designed the theme and sub themes, and who will Chair the sessions commented: “We all have a responsibility to engage in policy dialogue and in this instance, the interactive session will endeavour to seek convergence between public policy and private sector investment interests; between enterprise, profit and the environment while yet protecting our heritage and culture. All this is a tall order, but that challenge is a challenge in the larger interest of sustainable tourism, a challenge and a responsibility for all stakeholders who we hope will participate.”

Registration forms are available with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, 50, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 2. Secretary to the SLPoBC Satheeka Kavisekera can be contacted via email on [email protected] and on telephone numbers 5588859, 2329143, 2421745-7 and on fax 2449352, 2437477.