SLTDA mulls tourism resorts in 14 islands

By Naalir Jamaldeen

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has identified several new areas which are ideal to promote the tourism industry, Director, Tourism Planning and Development, P.U. Ratnayake said.

He said that the islands in Kalpitiya and the Nilaveli and Kuchchaveli areas in the Trincomalee district are suitable for tourism promotion. Projects in these areas will help provide accommodation to tourists expected to exceed 2.5 million by 2016.

According to Ratnayake, tourism projects will be implemented in fourteen islands. Four islands have already been leased out to investors. CHOGOM to be held in November, will be a turning point in attracting more foreign investors.

Today privately owned lands close to large hotel projects are being sold to investors or the people residing in close proximity build small tourist guest houses, he said.

Ratnayake said that development work at Pasikkudah is proceeding smoothly.

Already four hotels are in operation and three more will be opened before the end of this year.

He said that following the Business Forum to be held parallel to CHOGOM, the business community from abroad may buy lands to construct tourist hotels including the islands in Kalpitiya

Another area identified by the SLTDA is Yala Palatupana, opposite the Yala National Park entrance, a stretch of nearly 400 acres. This project will be implemented as wildlife resort project. Seven to eight hotels will be constructed within the area. Investors have already been selected.

Two are in the process of developing infrastructure facilities while others are in the process of drafting plans, he said. The Yala tourism resort project consists of hotel projects and camp sites. The process of identifying the camp sites will be completed soon, he said.