SL travel industry assures country back to normal

Sri Lanka’s travel industry spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism came together on Monday to assure international operators that normalcy has been restored, two weeks after mob violence in Kandy.

Tourism Minister John Amaratunga told a hurriedly, summoned media conference that the country has returned to normalcy. A state of emergency was lifted on Sunday.
Tourism Advisory Committee chairman  and chairman Aitken Spence Group Harry Jayawardena said that his hotels had sprung into action to assist their guests; and that no tourist was hurt or attacked.

He noted that the main cause of concern was the insurance cover that could increase travel costs when adverse travel advisories are posted.

Emirates Airlines Country Manager Chandana De Silva said that the airline industry operating into Colombo had experienced a 8-10 per cent cancellations in bookings during the week of the tensions from the West Asian market. (Sunimalee)