Prasanna assures Tourism Act will not be changed without consultation of private sector, Advisory Council

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has assured the tourism industry that the incumbent Act will not be changed without consultation of the private sector and his Advisory Council.

This assurance was given to the tourism industry when several of its leaders met him to voice the grave concerns of the industry due to the arbitrary change of the Act.

The private sector delegation included Minister’s Tourism Advisory Committee Chairman Hiran Cooray, The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President M. Shanthikumar, Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators Association (SLAITO) President Thilak Weerasinghe and few other senior members.

Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi was also present.

Following the meeting private sectors told the Daily FT that Tourism Minister Ranatunga gave an assurance that the existing Act will not be changed without consultation of the trade and the Advisory Council.

The Minister has also said he and the Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi are the sole authority that can recommend any changes to the Tourism Act and advised the private sector industry not to be misled by other persons.

Tourism industry is a 99% private sector driven industry and THASL, SLAITO, Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL), Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Tourism (ASMET) and Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference, Exhibition and Event Organisers (SLAPCEO) members are the main contributors to this important industry.