PARLIAMENT

Lankagama is currently attracting a large number of local tourists and it is important to develop a system to manage it properly, Hon. Sampath Athukorala, M.P. said.

The Member of Parliament stated the above at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Tourism chaired by Hon. Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga in Parliament yesterday (21).

Furthermore, Hon. Sampath Athukorala stated that a large number of local tourists have visited Lankagama in the last few days. Adding to it, he said that as a result, a large number of foreign tourists are likely to be attracted to this area in the future and therefore a proper management plan is needed.

Also, the internet (Google map) information should be updated so that foreign tourists visiting the Sinharaja forest can use the Lankagama entrance. Accordingly, Hon. Minister of Tourism instructed the relevant officials to look into this matter as soon as possible.

A lengthy discussion was also held on the preparation of work required to develop the tourism industry in the Galle and Matara districts. The Committee also discussed the preparation of a cable car project in Kandy to promote tourism in the Kandy District.

The Hon. Members of Parliament Chandima Weerakkody, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Nipuna Ranawaka, Sampath Athukorala, Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, Waruna Liyanage, Geetha Kumarasinghe, S. M. M. Muszhaaraff, Diana Gamage, Amarakeerthi Athukorala, J.C. Alawathuwala, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha were present at the meeting held.