Sri Lanka Missions abroad recognized at Tourism Awards
Commending the considerable role played by Sri Lanka Missions
overseas in the field of promoting Tourism, the Sri Lanka Tourism took
steps to create a new category of tourism awards for Sri Lanka Missions
in promoting Tourism for the year 2011, among its newly introduced 21
award categories.
|
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian
Federation Udayanga Weerathunga receiving the award from
Laksman Yapa Abeywardana, the Deputy Minister of Economic
Development. |
|
Ms. Shobini Gunasekara,
representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs with
the award on behalf of the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the
Peoples Republic of China |
Accordingly, the Sri Lankan Embassies in Russia, China and USA
awarded the first, second and third places consecutively for excellence
in tourism promotions at the "Sri Lanka Tourism Awards 2011"at waters
Edge, Battaramulla.
Representing the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow, the Ambassador of Sri
Lanka to the Russian Federation Udayanga Weerathunga received the award
from Laksman Yapa Abeywardana, the Deputy Minister of Economic
Development while the awards on behalf of Sri Lankan Embassies in
Beijing and Washington were received by the representatives from the
Ministry of External Affairs. Ms. Shobini Gunasekara, Director
General-Asia/Pacific received the award on behalf of the Ambassador of
Sri Lanka to the Peoples Republic of China and W.M. Dharmapala,
Director/West Division of the External Affairs Ministry received the
award on behalf of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington.
Since tourism is a key sector of the economy of the island at
present, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau highly expects to obtain
the cooperation of all Sri Lankan Foreign Missions Abroad for tourism
promotional activities in future.
The number of tourist arrivals in 2011 exceeded 800,000, which was
beyond expected figures. The promotional campaigns executed by the SLTPB
were the real force behind attaining this goal.
Signifying a promising and consistent industry, the first seven
months of 2012 already witnessed arrival over 500,000 tourists.
|