Light at end of the tunnel for Alankudah?

The hospitality industry in Alankudah which first drew tourism attention to the Kalpitiya Peninsula is in limbo primarily due to an issue over the land occupied by hoteliers. This issue dominated the agenda during a discussion Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga had with tourism stakeholders in the Alankudah area last Thursday (4).

“This matter needs to be resolved quickly in order to develop the tourism industry in this area. The delay in resolving this issue is unfair by the current investors as the prevailing uncertainty is preventing them from further developing their properties,” noted Minister Amaratunga. 

Minister of Tourism Development John Amaratunga discussing the issues faced by investors in Alankudah. At left is DG, SLTDA Malraj Kiriella and Advisor to the Minister Felix Rodrigo

The primary issue currently facing stakeholders is the land allocation to the integrated resort project in Alankudah. Although the project took off in 2005 it subsequently became bogged down in legal issues. 

The integrated resort project proposal submitted to the authorities in 2006 envisages transforminga large swathe of the Alankudah beach area to a stand-alone resort destination. The plans submitted to the authorities at the time even include the creation of a mini golf course as part of the resort project. However the subsequent issues concerning title to the land have put all plans on hold. 

Alankudah is a sleepy village hidden in the western shoreline of the Kalpitiya Peninsula and rose to fame with the introduction of whale and dolphin watching in the seas just off this coastline by the pioneer hoteliers who are also the promoters of the integrated resort. Currently five hotels operate on a seamless basis where guests from one hotel are free to roam among the five properties and make use of facilities provided by each property. 

Following his visit to the area, Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga noted that the Tourism Ministry will be making known its recommendations to Cabinet with regard to the land issue. A cabinet paper has already been submitted in this regard and is awaiting the recommendations of the Ministry.

Minister Amaratunga noted that due to the uncertainty that has prevailed over the land issue, tourism infrastructure development has remained in a neglected state. During an inspection tour of the area last Thursday he assured the hoteliers that steps will be taken to develop the basic infrastructure without further delay.

Following this assurance Minister Amaratunga summoned a meeting of the tourism stakeholders in the region, local government officials and other relevant officials at the Kalpitiya Government Agent’s Office on Friday (5), where he emphasised that basic facilities like proper approach roads and electricity need to be provided to the area without further delay.Funding for these projects were also discussed and necessary allocations made. 

The Chief Minister of the Wayamba Province, Dharmasiri Dassanayake, Deputy Minister of Tourism Development Arundika Fernando, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism Janaka Sugathadasa, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Paddy Withana, the District Secretary, Government Agent and other senior officials were present at the discussion.