The Hon. (Mrs.) Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the time. In this crucial debate on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism under the 2025 Budget of the National People’s Power, the Opposition’s attendance tells its own story at a time when they should present counter-arguments.

¶ 02 Referring to the Hon. Marikkar’s mention of a photograph depicting a “JVP spiritual leader,” if that is true and he believes it, he should table it.

¶ 03 Turning to my points: Galle District—Balapitiya and Bentara—are core tourism zones. When we assumed office, a key problem was the failure to recognize Sri Lanka’s tourism potential and the absence of a coherent policy and brand. Other countries have strong brands: “Incredible India,” “Malaysia, Truly Asia.” We lacked even that. We are now putting the sector on the right track with an institutional reorganization and establishment of a National Tourism Commission to frame national policy.

¶ 04 According to the latest Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority data, 600,000 tourists have arrived so far in 2025. Our rankings and indicators are improving. The question is how to maximize benefits from this momentum. Under our policy statement and Budget, we have allocated Rs. 600 million to upgrade sanitation and basic infrastructure at selected destinations under the Clean Sri Lanka project, including information centres and rest facilities—quietly and effectively, without spectacle.

¶ 05 Tourism is an umbrella industry; we must develop rural linkages—agro-tourism, eco-tourism and integrated tourism—so dollars reach the village. In Bentota and across Galle District, we are addressing core enablers. For instance, Bentota faces a longstanding drinking water issue. Within four months, via the first Coordinating Committee, we advanced a solid solution; the project is in its final stages and by May we expect tangible outcomes that also support tourism infrastructure.

¶ 06 People ask whether the NPP only talks. We work—quietly, without fanfare. We are committed to making Sri Lanka a bucket-list destination for the world through tourism.

¶ 07 Thank you.