Friday Nov 08, 2024
FT
Friday Nov 08, 2024
Tuesday, 6 February 2024 01:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Lanka Realty Investments PLC and leisure brand W15 Director Hardy Jamaldeen has written to The Tourist Hotels Association (THASL) to raise concerns over threats and safeguard the hospitality industry.
Jamaldeen has written to THASL President M. Shanthikumar over the recent false allegations and threats by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles concerning W15, which is a member of the leading industry body.
“We wish to place on record the said statements made by MP Tiran Alles have caused severe harm and irreparable damage to the reputation of the ‘W15’ hotels, and also Sri Lanka tourism as a whole,” Jamaldeen has informed THASL in its letter attaching the written representation made to the Minister.
“Statements of this nature coming from a Cabinet Minister is shocking to say the least; particularly at a time when there are challenges in attracting foreign tourists to Sri Lankan and the tourism industry has voiced its concerns with the Government regarding the continuing adverse travel advisories published by many foreign countries, which continues to be heavily detrimental to the Sri Lanka hotel and tourism industry,” Jamaldeen has said in his letter to THASL.
“Under these grave circumstances, we urge The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka to take this matter up with the President of Sri Lanka and also the Tourism Minister, and to take necessary action to implement the necessary safeguards to ensure that such illegal ‘operations’ do not endanger the safety of tourists visiting our country and also to ensure that the Ministers of the Government do not make any similar false and irresponsible statements which will cause further irreparable damage to the hotel and tourism industry as a whole,” the letter added.
