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| Monday, 1 September 2003 |
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by C.Siriwardena, Galle District Correspondent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who inspected the Galle Fort area yesterday pledged to make this historic fort, the key tourist city in the South East Asia. Accompanied by Public Administration, Management and Reforms Minister Vajira Abeywardena and Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge, the Premier commenced this survey from the old jetty at Baladaksha Mawatha, and made a close and detailed study of the cluster of old buildings and their surroundings including the official residence of the Public Administration Minister, Rampart Street, Lighthouse Street and the Galle esplanade. He observed that the Tourism Ministry has drawn plans to develop this area as a star class tourist centre within three years. The Premier said war had its ill effects in the tourist industry, but with the return of a peaceful atmosphere, tourism has begun to improve. The Government offices presently situated within the Fort area will be shifted to the town and the Galle Fort, which is a world heritage site, will be totally confined to the tourist industry, providing new employment opportunities to the young generation, he said. Expressing his views further, the Premier stated that in general, a tourist spends around USD 63 a day but his aim is to increase this to USD 100 by attracting tourists towards our local products and services. The reclamation of marshy lands in the Bentota area to provide amenities for the tourists is the second stage of this programme, he said.Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge opined that improvement of the tourist industry in our country would lead to economic uplift. Public Administration Minister Vajira Abeywardena, speaking on the occasion said that the Tourist industry in the country was at a low ebb when the present Government came to power but due to the peace process implemented by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the industry is now reviving. |
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