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| Tuesday, 29 July 2003 |
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Politics | |
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| Aquatic sports opens new ground for residents - Minister Attanayake Sigiriya group correspondent The history of water sports is as old as the rock of Rangiri Dambulla. We have had them from time immemorial. Our Sandesha Kawyas - Selalihini and Gira give fabulous descriptions of such events which make our heart thrills, said the Minister of Central Region Development Tissa Attanayake. He said so at Ibbankatuwa in Dambulla inaugurating the Midsummer Windsurfing Competition. Attanayake said: "What we are going to do now is to resuscitate them and to add new values to water, making it to promote tourism. Dambulla is the ideal location for it. In the album of Tourism Dambulla has an array of attractions. This is a site of the World Heritage, which possesses Regions and Archaeological glory. The world gallery of arts-aesthetic treasure. King Datusena's Sigiriya is in sight. International Dambulla Cricket Stadium is just by this reservoir. This is nothing but an oasis of tourist attractions. Tourism is a great hero in our foreign income register. We can open more fine vistas of opportunities through innovation of tourism. This opens up new ground for the residents of the area as well. Aquatic sports were confined to populous urban localities in Colombo. Now we host them as a new source of income. Your handicraft and other aged old craftsmanship can be exhibited. Further schoolchildren can be trained in aquatic talent without incurring fabulous expenses in school where swimming pools are available. The Dept. of Education needs no swimming pools for their children. This reduces such costs as well, the Minister said. Central Region Development Zone is blessed with water resources. Mention must be made of Gamini Dissanayake, who made the dream of Mahaweli a reality. Economic growth of Raja Rata depends on his massive efforts for which we should honour him. Therefore using other reservoirs which we have in abundance in Polonnaruwa. Anuradhapura and Minneriya will also be introduced to this value added water usage for tourism as well as for other necessary income gathering projects. I do not wish to bear the vision of this project alone. The Minister of Tourism Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Irrigation Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Alick Aluvihare and his son Matale District MP have given a big boost to make our efforts a success. The Ceylon Tourist Board, Mahaweli Authority, the Ministry of Environment and Windsurfing Association too played a great role. The Minister of Tourism Gamini Lokuge said that tourism is a big slice in our economy. This accompanies other benefits as well. Tourism is an ambassador of peace, and promotes international goodwill. When we consider the international involvements this is clearly visible. Tokyo Aid Forum became a great success because of our clear-cut foreign relationship theory of our Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. His policies made the path of peace a highway. Either investors or tourists are allowed to use this road - where we have removed all the barricades. |
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