President wants private sector to convert Presidential Houses, Ministerial bungalows into tourism resorts

Saturday, 30 August 2025 01:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says official program launching soon
President AKD hosts tourism sector for pre-Budget 2026 talks
Notes promotional campaigns not enough to achieve tourism targets

President Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday invited the private sector to invest in converting Presidential Houses and official Ministerial bungalows in tourism hotspots around the country into tourism resorts.

The President made this invitation at a discussion on the 2026 pre-Budget for the tourism sector with private sector stakeholders, The President’s Media Division said.

He had pointed out that mere promotional programs would not suffice to achieve the expected targets of the tourism sector for 2026.

He emphasised the need for a new strategic program jointly implemented by both the public and private sectors.

Inviting entrepreneurs to invest in transforming President’s Houses and Ministers’ official bungalows located in areas such as Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura, Mahiyanganaya and Kataragama into comfortable holiday resorts targeting foreign tourists, the President said a formal program would be launched in the near future.