CM to promote tourism in the province

B.W. Eheliyagoda -Kegalle Special Cor.

Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Chief Minister Maheepala Herath has mooted a plan and a program to generate more employment opportunities for all sections of the community in Sabaragamuwa.

chief Minister Maheepala Herath states both Kegalle and Ratnapura districts (Sabaragamuwa) is endowed with abundance of historical sites, waterfalls and panoramic scenery and eye-catching views could be tapped to draw tourists enhancing economic development and new venues of employment generation for the youths particularly.

Kegalle via Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is an exception in these development activities.

The Chief Minister has earmarked several extremely beautiful and panoramic locations in Sabaragamuwa Province to develop as tourist attractions and already allocated over Rs. 25 million of funds to utilize in the development process of these selected locations.

Some of these locations are Batalegala, Assupini-Ella, Padairgampola, Waulpone, Utuwankanda, Ihalakotte along with several other localities noted for their historical value and breathtaking vistas of scenery. The chief minister has proposed to declare a 'Tourist zone' in Sabaragamuwa encompassing these beautiful and breathtaking venues. The Chief Minister observes that soon there will be a possibility of creating over two thousand employment opportunities with the implementation of the proposed tourist zone in Sabaragamuwa.