Promoting Hambantota project launched

The Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce this week launched its latest venture to heighten the attraction of Hambantota as a popular tourist destination. Hambantota is being promoted as the “Deep South” of the country with a varying set of attraction ranging from the sea, sand and surf to ancient ruins and midnight boat rides.

Hambantota is already under massive development with the Southern harbour coming up and plans for Sri Lanka’s second international airport also being centred on the area. The initiative is being backed by an International NGO, Mercy Corps and Manchester Solutions UK.

The Deep South venture is built around, “12 places you shouldn’t miss in Hmbantota”, a series of attractions including the Yala National Park, the Bundala Park, the Sithul Pawwa rock temple, the Hummanaya spray and Mulkirigala. Already, there are close to 100 hotels, rest houses and guest houses in the main towns of Tissmaharama, Hambantota and Tangalle which are being pulled into the project. According to Suresh D. De Mel, Chairman of the Tourism Development Committee in Hambantota, the TDC itself has been formed for the express purpose of the project. Additionally, information centres and tourist itineraries are already in progress. According to him, the main challenges being faced by the organisers as of now are the lack of funds, skills and the security situation. Speaking to The Sunday Times FT, he said that the project is being helped financially by Mercy Corps. Also, they are looking at maximising private-public partnerships to avoid “duplication”. Elaborating this, he said, “There are so many ventures going on in these areas by so many different people that the people in the villages don’t know where to look. We have integrated all the stakeholders as much as possible to avoid this.” Managing a tourism project along with the massive developments going on in the areas would seem to be quite a dilemma for the authorities. However, “We admit it is a challenge,” said Azmi Thassim, Director General of the HDCC, adding, “but we are trying to cooperate with them as much as possible to avoid any hold-ups”. The HDCC will not be investing any money as such in the venture but will instead be facilitating investment by hoteliers and holiday-specialists both local and foreign”.

Governor of the Southern Province Kumari Balasuriya who was present at the launch expressed her hope that Sri Lanka would be able to be a prime destination for retirement tourists as well as off-season entertainment like drum festivals and the like.