Hewawasam resigns as SLTDA Chairman

Tuesday, 18 August 2026 09:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) joint Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam has resigned as Chairman of the SLTDA, effective yesterday, citing personal reasons.

“I signed up for the post only for one year, but as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake requested, I stayed back,” Hewawasam told the Daily FT.

The dual-chairmanship arrangement, under which Hewawasam headed both the SLTDA and SLTPB, was implemented on the instructions of President Dissanayake.

Hewawasam said his resignation would enable him to focus more on the upcoming interim and global tourism marketing campaigns, which he described as critical for the industry and the wider economy.

His resignation comes as Sri Lanka Tourism prepares to roll out its long-awaited interim market-specific promotional campaigns, with the announcement scheduled for tomorrow (19). The campaigns are intended to sustain Sri Lanka’s visibility in key international markets ahead of the winter travel season, pending the launch of the Rs. 3.5 billion global destination branding campaign expected by end-2026 or early 2027.

Meanwhile, industry sources said Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath is expected to appoint Suranjith Wevita as the new SLTDA Chairman. However, there was no official confirmation of the appointment as of yesterday.