Tourism Development Authority on demolition of unauthorised structures in Mirissa

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Kavan Ratnayaka clarified comments from Minister Faizer Mustapar yesterday, to the effect that the latter was applying political pressure against the implementation of corrective legal measures against the unlawful establishments on Mirissa Beach.

Ratnayake said the Minister’s concern was in regard to the livelihoods of the people who fall outside of the regulatory guidelines. His request is that the SLTDA and the partner agencies take this into consideration when applying the law. “The Minister is very supportive of the suggestion that the local Government bodies issue the trade licenses to tourism-related businesses only once they are registered by the SLTDA, which is a very good development. The agencies who have a mandate to regulate the beaches of Sri Lanka are working together as one team in the best interest of the tourism industry as a whole,” Ratnayake said.

“The reputational damage to the country and Sri Lanka Tourism from ill-disciplined and unregulated participants in the industry affects the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people. Our obligation is to protect the majority of law-abiding participants who depend on tourism,” the SLTDA Chairman emphasised.