Czech Republic to promote Lanka tourism

The Czech Republic has offered its full cooperation and assistance to promote Sri Lanka in that country as a tourist destination by generating among Czech citizens an interest in Sri Lanka's scenic beauty, its culture and places of historic importance.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been growing for a considerable period. Czech Ambassador in India Milloslav Stasek offered this assistance when he met Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa last Friday.

Minister Rajapaksa told the ambassador that Sri Lanka's tourism industry has made great progress and foreign tourists could visit any part of the island.

Ambassador Milloslav Stasek said that an increasing number of Czechs were keen to visit the island and were also interested in tasting traditional Sri Lankan food. Sri Lankan chefs will be given the opportunity of popularising their recipes in the Czech Republic.

The envoy added that his government was also planning to help in organizing a Sri Lankan cultural festival there to strengthen the ties between the two countries.

He assured the Czech Government's assistance to develop Sri Lanka's power plants and to provide know-how for the purpose.

Plans are also afoot to launch a waste management and recycling project with Czech assistance.

Discussions were also held on the need to commence new airline services between Sri Lanka and Central Europe.