Anuradhapura district has been included in the government sponsored ‘Skills for Inclusive Growth’ programme for activating a strategic plan for developing the tourism industry.
Six districts have been identified for the programme – Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Matale.
The Australian Government is providing the technological and financial assistance for the implementation of the project in the Anuradhapura district, it was revealed at a meeting held at the Anuradhapura Kachcheri headed by Additional Government Agent Vijaya Wanasinghe.
Wanasinghe said that in the implementation of the programme in the Anuradhapura district, priority shall be given for identifying targeted groups and groups that will join and contribute to the master plan as stakeholders.
“Although the Anuradhapura district is the largest district in the country where agriculture thrives, there is strong feasibility for boosting the tourism industry,” Wanasinghe said. “The country’s first settlement emerged thousands of years ago in Anuradhapura around the Malwathu Oya and the district has world renowned Buddhist monuments, two factors of which are favourable for developing this ancient kingdom as a world class tourist destination bringing much-needed foreign exchange to the country.”
Senior Professor Sunil Chandrasiri of the Colombo University attached to the ‘Skills for Inclusive Growth’ project said the project was prepared to develop the tourism value chain by expanding training facilities in the fields of hospitality skills, destination development, professional cookery, tourist guiding, etc., in collaboration with NITA, VTA and private and non-governmental training providers.
The programme includes various projects concerning capacity building in strategic skills
Development and increased female representation in the tourism value chain.
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