Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe on Wednesday announced that the concept paper for the establishment of a National Tourism Commission has been submitted to the Cabinet Office for approval, with a decision expected next week.
Addressing the media, he said the move is part of a broader initiative aimed at streamlining decision-making and enhancing efficiency within the tourism sector.
According to Prof. Ranasinghe, the proposed Commission will serve as the apex body for tourism development in Sri Lanka, sitting above existing institutions such as the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB). However, the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) will continue to function independently.
“The establishment of a National Tourism Commission will address longstanding bottlenecks that have delayed key tourism projects due to overlapping jurisdictions and bureaucratic red tape,” Prof. Ranasinghe explained.
He emphasised that the Commission will centralise oversight and eliminate many of the hurdles that have historically slowed tourism development efforts, especially those involving environmental and archaeological considerations.
“There are so many challenges when it comes to getting proposals implemented when working with line Ministries and agencies. The National Tourism Commission will take control of such complexities,” he said.
