Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2011-08-17

Draft Sri Lanka Tourism Authority Bill

- the proposal made by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Affairs to establish a Tourism Authority and to prepare a Bill for the purpose to be presented in Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet. The salient features of the Bill are as follows:

* develop Sri Lanka as a quality tourist and travel destination and a gateway to the South Asian Region;
* encourage persons or bodies of persons in the private sector to participate in the promotion of Tourism Industry and Training Activities connected with such industry;
* promote Sri Lanka as a venue for international, regional and domestic conventions, meetings and exhibitions; and
* promote and improve services and facilities provided for tourists