News
Ex-Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism tells govt. not to put cart before horse
Attempting to boost tourist arrivals without enhancing domestic production will only create further problems in the country, Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, the former Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism and Sri Lanka Export Development Board, has said.
Taking part in a television interview, Athukorale said that Sri Lanka hoped to attract five million tourists by 2030 and out of that 2.5 million were expected to be high-end tourists.
“We need to look at the bigger picture. We must see the role tourism will play in the bigger picture of the country’s development. In the current situation, we have a shortage of food; for example we don’t have enough eggs. 75 percent of the people have reduced their food bill so their kids can go to school. On top of that we expect to get 1.5 million tourists this year,” he said.
When a country skews itself toward one particular industry, it suffers with regard to other aspects. In such a situation, organized groups come in and see how they can exploit that industry, Dr. Athukorala said. This is manifest in certain groups that harass tour guides and their clients, and groups of taxi drivers who prevent other drivers from booking apps.
“We have to balance tourism with production. If we produce enough, we can guarantee essentials for people and products that many tourists need at a reasonable cost. Otherwise, let’s say we achieve the target of five million tourists in 2030 without boosting our agriculture. Then either tourists will consume a significant portion of our food or we will have to increase imports drastically. Then, instead of having 75 percent of the people who have reduced their food bill, so their kids can go to school, we will have 90 percent of such people”.
Dr. Athukorala said that authorities must also take steps to convince people that they, too, have a role in ensuring the success of tourism. While there is a global marketing campaign going on to attract tourists, people must be taught that they should behave in a way that keeps the promise we have communicated.
“Tourism is a goose that lays golden eggs. We have to behave in a way that wants to make people come back,” he said. He said that following the global pandemic, where people were stuck at home, there has been a massive increase in people travelling. Sri Lanka has benefited greatly from this. However, moving ahead, the country needs to develop the strategies and infrastructure to receive the tourists.
“65 percent of tourists who come to the country go to the Temple of the Tooth. During the Kandy Perahera, which attracts thousands of tourists, there is a shortage of toilets. Look at Ella, a hot destination, and there are no public toilets for tourists.
“The private sector, who makes the money from tourists, must step up and build the toilets. They also need to understand the need to build up infrastructure. If not, there will be so many bad reviews in the coming years, and that will even hurt the high-end tourist traffic that we want to attract,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
