More new tourist hotels in Pasikudah: Yapa

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said that 14 new hotels are being constructed in the Pasikudah Tourist Zone by private sector businessmen, investing Rs. 6,530 million for the construction of these hotels.

The Pasikudah Tourist Zone consisting 150 acres of land has become a very attractive location for tourists, especially for European tourists, and is being developed under the observation of the Tourist Development Authority. The 14 hotels being constructed will feature a total of 930 rooms.

Until 1983 Pasikudah was a tourist haven and there were three hotels with 171 rooms at that time. Due to the war, the tourist industry in the area died a natural death and with the end of the war, more and more tourist attention has been focused on this zone and it has become a very vibrant tourist area.

Yapa said that after completion of the current construction work, a large number of youth from the Eastern Province would obtain employment in Pasikudah. He noted that with upsurge in tourist arrivals in this zone, the people around the area would be economically strengthened.

He disclosed that the Government was spending Rs. 650 million for the development of the Pasikudah Tourist Zone, adding that the Economic Development Ministry had already provided Rs. 275 million of this amount.