A significant meeting to advance Sri Lanka’s tourism sector took place today under the patronage of Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism. Officials from the World Bank and Sri Lanka’s tourism sector gathered to discuss strategies for sustainable growth and innovation.
Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager, led the World Bank delegation. He was joined by Asela Dissanayake, Senior Operations Officer, Amila Dahanayake, Economist, and Kanchana Abeywickrama, Operations Officer. Representing Sri Lanka was Dheera Hettiarachchi, Chairman of SLITHM and SLCB, along with other senior officials.
The discussions focused on key initiatives to strengthen tourism. These included creating national and regional master plans, enhancing infrastructure, and improving workforce skills. Participants also emphasized automating services, diversifying tourism products, and expanding formal businesses. Special attention was given to empowering women and promoting community-based tourism initiatives.
Minister Ranasinghe stressed the importance of partnerships with international organizations like the World Bank. He reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to becoming a leading global destination by fostering innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity.
This meeting marked a major step in creating a resilient and vibrant tourism sector, capable of driving economic growth and enriching local communities.
