Tourism Minister clears the air on Sigiriya fiasco
Picture shows Krishan Balendra, President, Leisure Sector at John Keells Holdings speaking.
Tourism Minister John Amaratunga insisted on Monday that the tourism authorities could only monitor the various tourist attractions around the country and had no direct involvement in the running of these sites.
He noted that heritage sites were managed by different institutions (not coming under his purview) and noted that it was the Education Ministry that should be held responsible for the Sigiriya fiasco. The minister was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Cinnamon Hotel Group’s, Cinnamon Photo Contest 2017.
A cultural and a UNESCO world heritage site came under scrutiny recently for its lack of sanitary facilities which the Minister noted was today a popular attraction that generated large numbers to the site.
He also noted that the relevant authorities were working on ensuring that the route to the Adam’s Peak site be reserved as a UNESCO heritage site.
Sri Lanka has high expectations from the tourism industry that is set to and planned for high revenues and travellers to the destination, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority chief Paddy Withana said.
Sri Lanka is eyeing tourism revenue of US$3.5 million this year with over two million visitors and plans to attract 5 million in 2020 and generate revenue of US$10 billion by then, he noted.
Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts has launched a promotional drive looking through the lens of tourists in its latest photography contest.
The first of its kind by the group, Cinnamon Hotels commenced the Cinnamon Sri Lanka Photo Contest 2017 this week opening up seven categories of nature, culture and people, landscapes and cityscapes, interiors, activities an adventure, deeper perspective/photo-essay and travel shorts for photographs and videos obtained from January 1, 2014 to May 15, 2017.
Winners would be awarded the grand prize of Cinnamon Photographer of the Year along with a cash prize of US$5000, international media exposure, a six-page spread in the Cinnamon Magazine and an all-expense paid 21-day tour of Sri Lanka. The best videographer will be awarded US$2500 and a 10-day all expenses paid trip to the island. In addition, a cash prize of US$500 will be given to the winners of each individual category Submissions would be assessed by a panel of judges comprising Karl Taylor, Ami Vitale, Paul Goldstein, Chitral Jayatilake, Gehan De Silva Wijeratne and Dinesh Khanna.