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Tourism not affected by floods

by Tharika Goonathilake

Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge yesterday declared that Sri Lanka's tourism industry has not been affected by the floods contrary to certain international news reports. The floods, the worst the country has experienced since 1947, has created certain problems in particular areas like Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. However, no tourist has been affected, Minister Lokuge told the Daily News yesterday.

He said flood waters were receding fast and all steps were being taken by the Government to put in place emergency services to bring the situation under control. "Travelling to certain areas was restricted but the major impact was felt inland away from most of the more popular tourist areas," the Minister said.

Sri Lanka Tourist Board Director General S. Kalaiselvam said that the Tourist Board had conducted a random survey to ascertain the impact of the floods but none of the hotel properties had been affected.

"The areas worst hit by the floods were not tourist areas but more popular as day excursion spots, with the bulk of the tourists returning to the coastal areas or the hill country for their hotel stays or avoiding the routes. The industry so far has been spared of the devastation caused by the deluge."

The only major hotel affected was the Ratnaloka in Ratnapura which closed briefly after water clogged its access lane. But the hotel is now operating normally.

Several other guest houses in Panadura and Ratnapura were also briefly affected due to inundated roads, but none faced closure, he said.

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