US$ 480 m from last year's tourist arrivals

President Mahinda Rajapakse presided over a progress review meeting of the Tourism Ministry at Temple Trees on Monday. This is in keeping with the President's decision to keep a close tab on the efficiency, progress review activities and future plans of all the Government Ministries.

Reports said that at this meeting the Chairman Ceylon Tourist Board placed before President Rajapakse a comprehensive report on the new projects envisaged by the Board in the ensuing year (2006-2007).

Sri Lanka recorded 579375 tourist arrivals during last year bringing in US$ 480 million as income. The Ceylon Tourist Board has targeted over 600,000 tourist arrivals this year it was revealed at this meeting. The projected income this near is more than US$ 600 million.