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PM on a surprise visit to Ella; directs study on tourism development
View(s):Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed officials to conduct a detailed survey regarding hotel rooms in the Ella area after it emerged that there is a discrepancy between the numbers given by regional officials and statistics compiled by the Tourist Board.
The Premier gave the directive on Friday during a surprise observation visit to the tourist town of Ella, after he held talks with Ella Divisional Secretariat officials on tourism development.
The officials told the Prime Minister that there were about 1,000 hotel and rest house rooms in the Ella area. The Premier, however, cited Tourist Board statistics which put the room count at 300. Mr Wickremesinghe then instructed officials to conduct a detailed survey on the room situation and other factors that impede tourism development in the area. He told the officials to submit a report as soon as possible.
The Prime Minister outlined a plan to develop the Uva Province as a tourism zone centering on the Ella-Wellawaya area.
He expressed the hope that there would be an influx of tourists to the Uva Province with the Hambantota Port and the Mattala airport gets going from next year.
The Premier also visited the picturesque Ella Railway Station to check on shortcomings there and spoke to station officials. Attention was directed during the discussions on further developing the station.