Tourism Act creates rift in Ministry

Shirajiv Sirimane

RIFT: The delay in the implementation of the Tourism Act has created another rift between the Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Dr. P. Ramanujam and Minister Anura Bandaranaike.

Secretary Ramanujam said there is a delay in the implementation of the Act, which would raise tourism to a new elevation. He said that a top administrator of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) does not want the Act to be implemented as it would cut down his powers.

“He is influencing the Minister too,” the Secretary said.

The Minister last week wrote to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, requesting the transfer of his Secretary from office stating he cannot work with the Secretary.

“I have been appointed by the President and would only leave if the President tells me so,” Dr. Ramanujam said.

Meanwhile senior members of the leisure industry said that problems within the Ministry and the SLTB are creating major problems. “The power struggle has been going on for almost a year and this is hampering development,” he said.

These problems have also resulted in high uncalled for expenditure for the SLTB, as there is no check and balance system. In addition over Rs. one billion accumulated from the Tourism CESS fund for tourism development is lying with the Treasury and is yet to be utilised due to these internal conflicts.