Lanka to host World ITOP Forum & Festival

A 23-member Sri Lankan delegation led by Southern Province Governor Kingsley T. Wickramaratne to the World ITOP Forum in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea won the bid to host the 2007 World ITOP Forum & Festival in the Southern Province, Sri Lanka.

Southern Province Governor Kingsley T. Wickramaratne with Vice Governor of Bali Province I.G.N. Kesum Kelakan of the Republic of Indonesia with Lady Faliq Kelakan. Bali is a founder member of the ITOP Forum 2 and serves on the Executive Committee.

Minister Anura Bandaranaike delivered the keynote address at the conference and Governor Wickramaratne made the bid presentation. The Sri Lankan delegation to the forum comprised officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Southern Provincial Council.

The members of the delegation were the Secretary to the Chief Minister Shan Wijeyalal de Silva, Assistant Secretary A.C.L. Perera, Ruhunu Tourism Authority Chairman Mr. Hemasiri, Manager of the Ruhunu Tourism Authority Herman Perera and the Southern Provincial Council Dance Troupe with their instructor Ms Kokila, and husband and wife band Yohan and Honorine.

The Tea Board was represented by Mrs. Bandara and Mrs. Bhagya Weerasuriya. The Sri Lanka food stall serving mun ata kiribath, seeni sambol and jaggery and Ceylon Tea proved popular as did the dance troupe.

Governor Wickramaratne was elected Chairman of the World ITOP Forum and Festival Conference 2007 to be held in Sri Lanka from October 15 -18, 2007. The letter of invitation and welcome to Sri Lanka for the 2007 conference from President Mahinda Rajapaksa was read out by Honorine Fonseka and handed over by Mr. Wickramaratne to the Governor of Jeju Islands - Kim Tae Havan Rok.

The ITOP Forum is the Inter-Islands Tourism Policy Forum. The organization was formed in 1996, with its headquarters in Jeju Island. Today, the organization has a membership of 42 islands with over 2.5 million people. Its 10th anniversary was celebrated at the annual conference in Jeju Island, Korea.