|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 31 October 2002 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Nadira Gunatilleke The Central Cultural Fund (CCF) has earned over Rs.163 million through ticket sales to foreign tourists visiting the Cultural triangle during the last nine months. The CCF expects to earn another Rs.70 million within the year given the positive vibes created as a result of the ongoing peace talks, Director, Finance, CCF, Jimmy Amaraweera told the Daily News yesterday. "The conducive environment created for travel has been a major plus point. There has been a marked increase in ticket sales following the Government's peace initiative. It has encouraged foreign tourists to travel extensively within the country," Amaraweera said. Local visitors have bought tickets worth Rs. 1 million. "There was a very bleak period after the terrorist attack on the Bandaranaike International Airport. The CCF income plunged to a mere Rs. 50 million (during the second six months of 2001). Usually the CCF earns about Rs.25 million per month", he said. Amaraweera said it was vital for the CCF to generate sufficient income given the expenditure for maintaining these sites and related administrative work. There is a lease commitment of Rs.28 million and an additional Rs.20 million for salaries of the 3,000 CCF workers. The CCF also pays Rs. 18 million in salaries to employees of regional cultural centres. Around Rs. 10 to 20 million is also needed for renovating cultural sites, centres and monuments. The CCF issues tickets for Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. Tickets are available through travel agents registered with the Ceylon Tourist Board. Seventy five per cent of the total sales is are from Colombo. This is the quickest way to issue tickets to foreign tourists. A multiple ticket costs US$ 32.50 while an individual ticket costs US$ 15. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
