Sri Lanka Tourism gets professionals as new heads

The Government has appointed new Chairmen for the four key tourism institutions.

Buddhika Hewawasam has been appointed as the Chairman of both the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).

In addition, Dheera Hettiarachchi has been appointed as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB).

Hewawasam, an aviation and travel industry professional, is also the Manager of the Sri Lanka of International Air Transport Association (IATA). Hettiarachchi too is a professional in tourism management and was the SLITHM Cluster Head – Travel and Tourism.

These appointments come after the previous Chairmen stepped down last week.

Both Hewawasam and Hettiarachchi are expected to bring fresh perspectives and leadership to these key organisations, contributing to the overall strategy of developing tourism industry infrastructure and boosting its global appeal as a destination.

With new leadership in place, the Government is hoping to street the sector towards growth and recovery, aiming to lure visitors and boost foreign exchange earnings.