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| Thursday, 17 April 2003 |
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by Panduka Senanayake The lack of infrastructure is holding Sri Lanka back from achieving its full potential as a tourist destination, Don Randall, Member of the Australian Parliament and Chairman of the Australia-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group told the 'Daily News'. He was leading a delegation of Australian Parliamentarians and businessmen on a visit to the island to identify specific areas in which the Australian Government would be able to assist Sri Lanka by way of developing infrastructure. One of the areas the delegation focused on was the feasibility of constructing a high altitude training camp for world class athletes in the region, at Nuwara Eliya. Accelerating Sri Lanka's potential in tourism and other fields including mineral mining were also discussed at meetings held with the authorities. The delegation also looked at providing quality Australian wines for the Sri Lankan market as well as expanding current opportunities for tertiary education to Sri Lankan students. The delegation comprised Parliamentarians, Senators Michael George Forshaw, Steve Hutchins, Messrs Don Randall MP and Bob Charles and businessmen Fred McCurray, Dean Capelli, Fabrizio Perill, Rodney Young and Peter Murphy. In Sri Lanka at the invitation of Minister G. L. Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs, they were facilitated by businessman Noel Selvanayagam.According to Randall, there is enormous and unbelievable potential for tourism in Sri Lanka, now that the fighting has ceased. The natural friendliness of the people and their willingness to go forward, leaving the fighting behind, led to a building of confidence in the people. Pointing out that today, Sri Lanka is where Bali was 15 years ago, he said that lack of infrastructure was holding the country back from achieving its full tourist potential. He explained how tourists who arrive in a country are anxious to get to their final destination from the airport as soon as possible. Locations such as Sigiriya are unique and hotels such as Kandalama are ideal for rest and relaxation. But, you need at least a three lane highway, if Sri Lanka is serious about tapping its full tourist potential, he said. A keen golfer who had played in some of the best courses in the world, Randall cited the Victoria Golf Course in Kandy as one of the best he had played in. However, he lamented its under utilisation stating that the island should make maximum use of such facilities by offering packages in conjunction with direct flights and accommodation. Randall pointed out how some enterprises could make use of sea planes to ferry tourists to some of the destinations around the country.''This is quite unique and would prove feasible because the island is dotted with lakes and waterways within close proximity to quite a number of destinations,"he said. Randall was seconded in his ideas by Senator Steve Hutchins, Deputy Chairman of the Australia-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group and a member of the delegation. Senator Hutchins, a keen horse racing fan, however expressed his disappointment at the lack of a proper race track and horse racing. |
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