A pivotal meeting to advance Sri Lanka’s tourism development was held today, chaired by Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism. Representatives from the World Bank and Sri Lanka’s tourism sector convened to explore strategies for sustainable growth and innovation.
The World Bank delegation was led by Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager, accompanied by Senior Operations Officer Asela Dissanayake, Economist Amila Dahanayake, and Operations Officer Kanchana Abeywickrama. On behalf of Sri Lanka, Dheera Hettiarachchi, Chairman of SLITHM and SLCB, participated alongside other senior officials.
Key areas of discussion included the development of national and regional master plans, infrastructure improvements, and workforce skill enhancement. The meeting also focused on automating services, diversifying tourism offerings, expanding formal businesses, and promoting community-based tourism initiatives with an emphasis on empowering women.
Minister Ranasinghe highlighted the critical role of partnerships with international organizations like the World Bank in achieving sustainable tourism growth. He reiterated Sri Lanka’s dedication to becoming a premier global destination by prioritizing innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity.
This collaborative effort represents a significant step towards building a resilient and dynamic tourism sector that drives economic growth while enriching local communities.
