Basil to chair high-powered meeting today with tourism industry

•  Discussion aimed at early reopening of borders and resumption of international tourist arrivals
• Tourism Minister updates aviation representatives on progress to reopen country for tourists
• International airlines express keenness to resume flights to SL with strict safety guidelines

By Charumini de Silva

Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication Chairman Basil Rajapaksa

Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication Chairman Basil Rajapaksa will today chair a high-powered meeting with tourism and travel stakeholders on reopening borders and

resuming international tourism.

The latest initiative is a follow-up to a meeting Rajapaksa chaired mid this week and a flurry of discussions between health authorities and tourism authorities to resume tourism with strict safety guidelines.

Among the top-level participants at today’s discussion are Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Aviation State Minister D.V. Chanaka, Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza, Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. S.H. Munasinghe, Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando, Immigration and Emigration Controller General U. V. Sarath Rupasiri, Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Upul Dharmadasa, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Major General (Retd.) G.A. Chandrasiri, and Sri Lanka Customs Director General Major General (Retd.) Vijitha Ravipriya.

Officials and industry representatives have been working together to fast-track reopening borders after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa – speaking at the recent Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Economic Summit – expressed keenness to resume international tourist arrivals with adequate safety guidelines, acknowledging that the tourism sector was the worst-hit due to COVID-19.

Separately, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga also chaired a meeting yesterday to update the aviation representatives on the ongoing progress of the discussions to reopen the country›s borders and welcome international travellers.

Aviation State Minister D.V. Chanaka, Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi, Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Upul Dharmadasa, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Chairman Major General (Retd.) G.A. Chandrasiri, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando, and international airline representatives also participated at the meeting yesterday.

The stakeholders shared insights into the possibilities of reopening the country for international tourism and its readiness to cater to international travellers.

The Minister requested airline agents to prepare to bring in tourists while strictly following health guidelines once borders are open.

The airline representatives welcomed the Government’s keenness to reopen borders and to resume international tourism, while expressing their enthusiasm to resume flights to Sri Lanka in a safe manner.

Minister Ranatunga has also highlighted that it is mandatory for registered accommodation and service providers to obtain the ‘Safe and Secure’ COVID-19 safety standard compliance certification.

Earlier this week, Minister Ranatunga updated the Cabinet on the progress of the talks with health authorities on reopening borders for international travellers.

He said the Joint Tourism and Health Committee was requested to submit their final recommendations by the end of this week, and also get the approval for the same from the Health Services Director General by early next week.

Upon Joint Committee recommendations, the Minister has requested two separate meetings with the President and COVID-19 Task Force next week to finalise on protocol and timeline to reopen the country for international tourism.