Tourism Ministry involved in SAG

LETTER: The full text of the letter sent by Tourism Ministry Secretary to Secretary Ministry of Youths Affairs and Sports.

I was really disturbed by the news item that appeared in on 1st August 2006 Daily News under the captain "Games sans Tourism Ministry Support" which highlighted a media conference you and Mr. Hemasiri Fernando, Chairman, NOC had the previous day and the subsequent news item in Morning Leader on 2nd August 2006 (today). In summary all these facts and figures have created a total misinterpretation of the real truth.

Perhaps you would have not been aware that this Ministry, Sri Lanka Tourist Board and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau have been attending several meetings with the organizing committee since December 2004.

I, as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, have chaired a number of meetings with the accommodation and transport committee together with hoteliers to secure room requirements for the delegates/ participants and there were further meetings with the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, with a view to obtaining further reductions in hotel rates.

I have been made to understand that the Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourist Board had convened another meeting with the hoteliers with a view to seek the possibility of offering special rates for this event. However, there seems to be an absolute miss communication in reporting the various activities undertaken by our agencies.

Hon. Arujuna Ranathunga, Deputy Minister of Tourism on the instructions of Hon. Anura Bandaranaike, Minister of Tourism had another meeting with the hoteliers and the SAF organizing committee which was attended by Chairman, NOC. I hope you will realize that SAF Games will only help us to promote the country within the region other than boosting the image of the country.

Even then given the possible opportunities Sri Lanka Tourist Board has already planned to display welcome banners inviting the participants attending the SAARC games and will distribute promotional material for awareness creation purposes.

I have advised the private sector tour operators to organize day tours if there are requests from the participants to do so. Thereby don't presume either this Ministry or the institutions under this Ministry have abandoned this event as no use for Tourism.

I am surprised and saddened that you as Secretary has fully endorsed the unreasonable remarks made by Mr. Hemasiri Fernando, Chairman of the National Olympic Committee during the press conference to the effect that nothing has been done by the Ministry of Tourism.

It appears that you have not been briefed by your officials of our contribution or that you are deliberately misleading the public on the role played by the Ministry of Tourism to bring us into disrepute.