Tourism can be said to be one of the key sources of income for the
Sri Lankan economy. As an island in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has
diverse tourist locations that attract both local and foreign tourists.
Sandy beaches, wildlife, ancient ruins, colourful coral reefs, lagoons,
rivers, lakes, waterfalls, tropical rain forests, high floral and fauna
diversity have created large numbers of tourist destinations in the
country. There are also Buddhist religious tourists from other Buddhist
communities in the Asian region, who are attracted mainly to Buddhist
and archaeological sites here.
The 30 year long conflict barred foreign tourists visiting tourist
hotspots of the country and reduced tourists to the country until 2009.
The situation changed dramatically after the end of the war and an
article in the New York Times magazine in 2012 included Sri Lanka among
the 31 countries to visit in that year. After peace was restored, the
number of tourists arrivals increased steadily to 85,975 in 2011.
The established target of the industry is to attract 2.5 million
tourists by the year 2016.
Traditionally, the majority of the tourists to Sri Lanka are from
Western Europe. But since 2006 the number of tourists from Asian
countries is on the rise. There are relatively new areas emerging in the
tourism sector. For instance, Ayurvedic treatments have attracted
tourists to Sri Lanka. Other growing sectors include Eco-tourism,
agro-tourism etc. These are areas that could be developed without any
damage to the environment and the target of tourism should be
sustainable tourism and should focus on minimizing the detrimental
impacts of tourism.
The lack of sufficient number of hotel rooms in the country to cater
to the expected tourists is a problem. The number of rooms in Sri Lanka
was about 15,000 in 2012 yet about 35,000 rooms are required to fulfill
the target of 2016. Also, properly trained tour guides are required for
a quality service. Fluency in different languages is essential to the
growth of the sector. Infrastructure development is also necessary for
the sector.
A well developed highway network as well as the development of other
modes of transport is necessary for this. However such developments
should be socially, environmentally and economically assessed to ensure
that they do not cause collateral damage.
Tourism is still being considered in negative terms by certain
sectors in society. This is due to, among other causes, the growing
incidence of child abuse and prostitution. The number of children in
child prostitution is difficult to be stated exactly but estimates
around 3,000. Poverty and other social pressures that prevail in the
country have contributed to this issue significantly. The problem could
be solved by alternative livelihood promotions through awareness
programmes and skill development programmes. There are ample job
opportunities in tourism like tour guides, culinary and hotel
employment, transport, handicraft industry etc. Such opportunities as
well as vocational training could be carried out in areas where tourism
is popular.
The impact on agriculture and other essential services and production
sectors by the job opportunities created by tourism should also be
addressed properly. However as tourist arrivals fluctuate throughout the
year, there are part time job opportunities and they can engage in their
own livelihoods as usual. Spreads of drugs and gambling is directly
related to the tourism industry. This and other influences can have a
negative impact on cultural values.
A proper plan is necessary to overcome this situation and needs a
collective effort to establish responsible tourism in the country to
ensure its sustainability.
HARSHI NADIE PERERA
PILIYANDALA
People of Sri Lanka pride themselves on being inheritors of a rich
and proud cultural heritage. In keeping with the accepted mores and
social values of Sri Lankan society, arranged marriages have
successfully remained stable so much so that the topic of divorce had
remained something of a taboo in the past.
The general observer notices the obverse of this situation in the
West where marriages break up often and numerous marriages end in
divorce.
In the East, the main components of a family, the father, the mother
and their children are attached to one another and all contribute to the
enrichment of the family life.
However, this mutual attachment within the family is seen less today,
due to a variety of social and economic factors.
All indications are that our way of life may be unnecessarily
dominated by behaviour traits that exist in Western society.
Characteristic features of the country's indigenous population seem
to fade out in our modern society.
A fairly large number of divorce cases being filed in courts of law
and the increasing divorce rate, amply illustrate the point.
In the past, generation after generation have continued to attach
much moral and religious significance to the concept of marriage.
But this long-existed attitude about marital life has now begun to
dwindle.
By the look of things, clearly there has been a marked decline in
societal norms in relation to the culture and life of Sri Lanka and
what's more, this trend is seriously harmful to the political philosophy
of our President, who has set his mind on creating environmental
protection for the promotion of spiritual growth among the young.
NANDARATNA RAJAPAKSHA
AMBALANGODA
This is in reference to my letter under the above caption which
appeared in the 'Citizens' Mail' column in the Daily News on 18.3.2013.
I have since been informed by the Chairman of the Panadura Urban Council
that the amount of arrears due as assessment tax from rate payers is not
Rs. 300,000 but should be corrected to read as 30 million (Rs. 30,
000,000). The remaining work relating to the crematorium is yet to
start. It is hoped that the Chairman will explore all possibilities of
obtaining the required funds from whatever sources and complete the work
and commission the crematorium early, thus fulfilling a longstanding
need in the area which will be much appreciated by the residents of
Panadura.
H.W. GOONESEKERA
PANADURA
A Buddhist monk, the Rev. Bowatte Indrasara Thera committed suicide
in front of the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, by pouring petrol and setting
fire to his body on a day following Wesak, as a strong protest over the
slaughter of cattle in this predominantly Buddhist country.
A careful analysis will show that approximately a thousand head of
cattle are slaughtered in slaughter houses in our country every day. The
slaughter of cattle is done in the most inhumane way in slaughter houses
in Colombo and in other places. In addition it is found that illicit
slaughter of cattle takes place as a daily routine and beef is
transported to main towns from these illegal slaughter houses to meet
the demand of hotels as well as domestic requirements. A large quantity
of beef is even said to be exported to certain countries.
Beef stalls are required to posses a licence to operate business and
beef kept for sale should be inspected by Public Health Inspectors who
are required to place their rubber franks certifying the authenticity of
the meat for sale. But it is no secret that certain butchers posses the
seal of the PHIs.
Although for the past many years, representation were made to the
respective governments by societies such as the Gal Gawa Mithuro, Sathwa
Mittra and such others who fight against violations of animal rights, no
action has been taken upto now to rectify or control this pathetic
situation. Most in officaldom do not like to touch this issue fearing
that they will not get the approval of the carnivorous citizens. The
self-immolation of the Rev. Bowatte Indrasara Thera should be an eye
opener of those concerned at least now.
H.G.P. JAYASEKERA JP
AMPITIYA
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