FROM SHIRAJIV Sirimane in Germany

BERLIN - The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) will allocate US $ 5 million to help the small and medium sector tourism industry affected by the tsunami.

Tourism Ministry Secretary Dr. Pratap Ramunujam told the Daily News after the opening ceremony of the world's largest tourism fair ITB, that this decision was taken at the second WTO meeting held in Berlin on Thursday. He said Sri Lanka would receive this from next month. 'This is a grant from the WTO to help the SME sector," he said.

Ramunujam said the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce have identified over 1300 enterprises in need of finances to recommence their business.

Small time restaurant owners, guest house and small time hotel owners, batik shop owners and three wheeler drivers are some of the enterprises that have been identified.

"We would be giving these loans through rural banks on interest. Some of these loan recipients have not even registered with the SLTB. Why the SLTB decided to give this grant as a loan to the SME sector is because the SLTB wants to set up their own fund to face similar situations in the future," Ramanujam said.

He said the German Government has also helped Sri Lanka by taking off the participating fee for the Sri Lanka Pavilion at the ITB

"We would have had to pay around Rs. 40 million as participating fees and the German Government has given a concession in this regard. The SLTB would be re utilising this money for their promotions in Germany," he said.

Ramunujam said as far as tourism was concerned Sri Lanka gets negative publicity whenever a head of a State visit the country.

"This is because they are taken to affected areas and tourists get the wrong message. Due to this we have decided to invite travel journalists to Sri Lanka and the WTO decided to sponsor visits of journalists from CNN and BBC travel sections", he said.

He said he would be promoting a slogan 'You warmed our hearts with sympathy. Now come to Sri Lanka to show our hospitality' at the ITB to woo tourists.

Ramunujam said tourists from Asian countries like Japan, China and Korea are somewhat reluctant to visit Sri Lanka after the tsunami.

"They still feel that Sri Lanka has health problems generated after the tsunami. We have decided to have an aggressive market campaign in these countries," he said. The Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Germany, Jayantha Palipane said that the mood in Germany among travellers is that they should visit Sri Lanka to help the country.

"The German Parliament at one of their meetings focused their attention as to how the government could help tsunami affected countries. The fact that this issue was discussed in Parliament is a positive sign,' he said.

Tourist Board Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara said the ITB would help increase the number of European tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka.