Sri Lanka wins bid to host world ITOP forum and festival 2007

A 23-member Sri Lankan delegation led by Southern Province Governor Kingsley T. Wickramaratne to the world ITOP Forum in Jeju Island of the Republic of Korea recently won the bid to host the 2007 World ITOP Forum and Festival in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.

Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike delivered the keynote address at the conference and Governor Wickramaratne made the bid presentation.

The members of the SriLankan delegation comprised the Secretary to the Chief Minister Shan Wijeyalal de Silva, the Assistant Secretary A.C.L. Perera, the Ruhunu Tourism Authority Chairman Hemasiri, Manager of the Ruhunu Tourism Authority Herman Perera and the Southern Provincial Council Dance troupe comprising four boys and four girls and their training instructor Mrs. I. Kokila.

The Tea Board was represented by Mrs. N. Bandara and Mrs. Bhagya Weerasuriya. Sri Lanka had a food stall which was very popular serving mun ata kiribath, fish, seeni sambol and jaggery. Two officers of the Tea Board served pure Ceylon Tea.

Governor Wickramaratne was elected the chairman of the World ITOP Forum and Festival Conference 2007 to be held in Sri Lanka from October 15 to 18, 2007. The letter of invitation and welcome to Sri Lanka for the 2007 Conference was from president Mahinda Rajapaksa read by Mrs. I. Horinione and was handed over by Governor Wickramaratne to the Governor of Jeju Islands.