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Tourism, a key foreign exchange earner, says minister

by Bentota group correspondent

Minister of Tourism Gamini Lokuge said that it was President J.R. Jayewardene, as the then Minister in-charge of Tourism, that set up the Ceylon Tourist Board and the Hotels Corporation in 1967 under a 10-year plan to promote the hospitality trade, under which the first holiday resort in Sri Lanka on 100 acres was established in Bentota". Today this industry is a key foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka".

The Minister was addressing the hoteliers of the Bentota-Beruwela Hoteliers Association at Ida Hotel, Bentota.

The Minister also said: "We are at the threshold of an era of peace and stability, and all avenues are being opened to pave the way for an industrious and prosperous nation under the able stewardship and vision of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The government had officially recognised the tourist industry as a key foreign exchange earner, which contributes substantially to the economic development of the country. As such every endeavour would be made to redress the grievances of all those engaged in it, from the highest to the lowest, although the government was facing an acute financial crisis".

"Bentota and Beruwela areas are earmarked to be made tourist cities as they had the required resources and potential. The total land area available in Bentota for the project is approximately 4,000 acres adjoining Dedduwa Lake. The allotted land is a marshy area which cannot be developed for any agricultural activities. Therefore, a tourism project would be ideal in this locality as there are a number of Tourist Hotels in Bentota within easy reach of the proposed resort, the Minister said.

"It is proposed to accommodate a golf link, a race course, an amusement park, a marketplace and other tourist attractions including ecotourism trails within the project area. The Minister intends to obtain private sector assistance to develop the resort after obtaining necessary clearance from the respective Government Agencies", he said.

The Minister on arrival was welcomed by Managing Director Ida Group of Companies L.W. Weerasena.

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