PM instructs CCF to introduce all-inclusive online ticket for tourists at archaeological sites

By Norman Palihawadana

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) officials to introduce an all-inclusive one online ticket for foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka to enter all the archaeological sites in the country.

The Premier also told them that terrorists were greatly inconvenienced when they were made to buy tickets at all sites. Local tourists too would be benefited if officials could find possibilities of introducing one ticket at a reasonable price, covering all museums in a particular archaeological site, he said.

He instructed officials to consult the Tourist Board and introduce the new online ticketing system.

The PM said so at Temple Trees after accepting the report submitted by a five-member committee appointed by him in his capacity as the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to provide recommendations for the restructuring of the CCF.

The committee was appointed by the Prime Minister to make recommendations in line with the national policy framework “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”, which states that “the Central Cultural Fund should be fully revised and restructured”

This committee, chaired by Director-General, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources S. J. Kahawatte, consists of Director of Management Services Department B. M. D. N. Balasooriya, Senior Assistant Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Priyanga Nanayakkara, Director of Information Technology Management Department D.P.C.E. Peiris and Assistant Director (Information Technology) at Department of Management Services, Ministry of Finance Madhushani Warnasooriya.

The Prime Minister accepted the report and stated that the implementation of these recommendations would enable the CCF to become a more effective institution in achieving its objectives in the future.

Gamini Senarath, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Prof. Kapila Gunawardana, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Attorney-at-Law, Ganesh R. Dharmawardena- Public Trustee of Sri Lanka, Senior Prof. Anura Manathunga- Director General of the Department of Archaeology and Prof. Gamini Ranasinghe- Director General of the Central Cultural Fund were also present at the occasion.