Tourist Zone in North and East

Tennakoon KULASEKERA

The aim of the government is to create a tourist zone within four years, spread over the North and East and thereby fortify the economy, said the Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the Deyata Kirula National Development Exhibition Foundation laying ceremony held at the National Holiday Resort, Anuradhapura where an eighty room building complex is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 30 billion.

The minister said Sri Lanka is by nature a wonder resort possessing ancient monasteries and historic sites. Several Natural Parks in the Anuradhapura District are declared National Holiday resorts.

The minister also stressed the fact that the foreign/local tourists are delighted at the sight of elephants, tuskers and other animals and by their influx economic capability is strengthened.

This occasion was graced by the minister and Parliamentarians of the area, Dr Nalaka Godahewa of the Tourist Development Authority and several other dignitaries.

'Our flora and fauna and wildlife have won the hearts of many a foreign tourist. It is estimated, by the year 2016, 16 lakhs of tourists would grace our country.

'By the influx of tourists to our country, the foreign exchange we earn would be channeled to develop our industries thus paving the way to create more avenues of employment.

'With the disappearance of the fear psychosis of the war foreign tourist arrivals have escalated and with the updating of the Holiday Resorts the local tourists could tour the North Central and the North with better accommodation facilities,' he said.