SLTDA grades eating places in Colombo under its ‘Tourist Friendly Eating Places’ scheme

Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga  addressing the gathering .From left:  Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Malraj B.Kiriealla, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs  Shirani Weerakoone , Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Paddy Withana, SLTBP Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara, and  SLITHM Chairman Sunil Dissanayake -Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLDA), in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Colombo Municipal Council has launched a project to encourage the upgrading of food safety, hygiene and service of eating places supplying food for foreign and local tourists.

The project is named as “Certification Scheme for Tourist Friendly Eating Places”. SLTDA is planning to expand this project, initially launched within Colombo Municipality limits but aims to cover suburbs of Colombo soon. Under the second phase of the project, eating places in Kandy and Galle will be certified.

Starting on early May 2017, SLTDA began inspection visits to eating places in Colombo. Based upon the inspection scores, 25 eating places in Colombo Municipal Council area were selected for the certification. The two types of certification are granted in these places with ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades. The Certification awarding ceremony was held on 27th June, 2017 at 2.00 p.m. at Monara Restaurant, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management under the patronage of Hon. Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, John A.E. Amaratunga. 

Minister Amaratunga has consistently highlighted the need for certification and standardization of tourism related services. “If we are to sustain the growth of our tourism industry, it is extremely important that we offer quality food and beverage services for tourists. SLTDA’s currently ongoing project of certifying Tourist Friendly Eating Places is a step in the right direction in this regard. While some Sri Lankan restaurants are among the best in the world having won international recognition, there is the other end of the spectrum which is not up to the mark. We have to raise the standards of these places,” said Minister Amaratunga. 

“Sri Lanka Tourism industry has progressed dramatically over five decades to receive an all-time high hit of 2 million annual tourist arrivals at the end of the year 2016. As the Island’s catalyst in Tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority continuously drives to ensure the satisfaction of tourists with quality service.”, said Mr. Paddy Withana, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

 “Our objective is to make sure that tourists enjoy remarkable experiences during their stay in Sri Lanka. Colombo, being the Island’s capital city is one of famous destinations among both foreign and local tourists, we need dynamic strategies to improve the standards and quality on the services that are offered to tourists. The project also aims to cover popular eating places in Kandy and Galel in near future. By participating in this project, the relevant eating places will get the advantage of supplying clean, hygienically prepared, tasty food and also will obtain more recognition in order to create more demand, Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Mr. Malraj B.Kiriealla sated.

The following eating places were awarded certifications: