Parliament discusses political crisis's impact on tourism industry

The UNP has moved an adjournment motion regarding the state of the country's tourism industry due to the current political crisis. 

Speaking during the debate UNP MP John Amaratunga said the tourism industry is in turmoil due to the current political uncertainty. He pointed out that the new Tourism Minister appointed under the Rajapaksa government resigned two weeks into the job and that he was currently with the UNP. He noted that several countries had already issued travel advisories to their citizens regarding Sri Lanka. 

"Many hoteliers today are worried," the MP stressed, adding that the amount of cancellations that have already been made is indicative of the disaster that is befelling the tourism sector. 

Mr Amaratunga said President Maithripala Sirisena needed to come to Parliament and answer for the damage that has been inflicted on the tourism industry.  

JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake noted that the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and France have already issued travel advisories to their citizens regarding visiting Sri Lanka. "These are the countries from where we get the most highest spending tourists," he pointed out. According to those involved in the tourism industry, there had been a 15 percent drop in arrivals compared to last November, he added.

MP Rathnayake blamed President Maithripala Sirisena for plunging the country into an unprecedented crisis that has now had a devestating impact on the country's tourism industry.  

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