Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-03-02

Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Sri Lanka Tourism

- The functioning of the Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka with a targeted approach commenced with the establishment of the Ceylon Tourist Board in the year 1966, subsequent to the enactment of the Tourist Board Act, No.10 of 1966. Since then, the Tourism Industry in the country has been able to earn a lucrative income during the past fifty years and nearly 03 Lakhs of direct and indirect employment opportunities have been generated through the said Industry. Tourist arrivals to the country which was around 19,079 in the year 1966 increased up to 1,798,380 by the year 2015. Both the Government Economic Policy presented in Parliament by the Hon. Prime Minister last year and the Budget proposals - 2016 have emphasized the importance of development and promotion of the Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the Cabinet noted the information submitted by Hon. John Amarathunga, the Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, as to the effect that a celebration programme is scheduled to be held during this year, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Sri Lanka Tourism, with a view to contributing towards the future progress of the Tourism Industry.