India supports development of tourism, aviation sectors in SL

• Minister Prasanna Ranatunga proposes joint program to promote religious, cultural and archaeological tourism between India and SL
• Namal appreciates India’s support for Sri Lanka’s socioeconomic development

India this week expressed its fullest support for the development of the tourism and aviation sectors in Sri Lanka.

This was conveyed by Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay during a discussion with Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga and Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa at the VIP lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake minutes before the maiden SriLankan Airlines flight to Kushinagar on Wednesday.

Minister Ranatunga pointed out that India was the largest source market for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. During January to September, India became the largest source of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka with 27%, beating Kazakhstan’s rank by just 1%, since the reopening of borders in January.

India was also the largest source of tourist visits to Sri Lanka with 63% of the total traffic received in September. Following the lifting of the ban, National Carrier SriLankan Airlines too resumed passenger flights to India and extended its innovative ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ air ticket offer.

He also pointed out that the majority of the people in the country had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and the Government was taking steps to fast-track the administration of the vaccines to school children. 

Ranatunga said that he expected an increase in the number of Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka in the coming months, as a lot of attention had been paid to boosting tourism between the two countries, especially with regard to religious ties.

He pointed out that Sri Lankans mostly travel to India on Buddhist pilgrimage, whilst Indian devotees mostly come to Sri Lanka to visit Ramayana sites. 

In this context, Ranatunga suggested a joint program should be implemented between the two countries to promote religious, cultural and archaeological tourism.

The Indian High Commissioner agreed and said that attention had already been paid in this regard.

They also discussed the expansion of air services between the two countries and the resumption of flights from Jaffna to Chennai.

Minister Namal Rajapaksa said that the Government appreciated India’s support for socio-economic development in Sri Lanka.