The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today Hon. S. M. Marikkar held up a phone to show a photo. If it is a relevant photo, table it—if not today, then on Monday. If it is an indecent photo, do not table it. We do not need it and we are not interested.

¶ 02 I thank you for the opportunity during the Debate on the Expenditure Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. In the past, the Foreign Ministry had a reputation like pickled lime and “nelli dosa”—always clashing with other ministries. Under the NPP government, we now have a unified Ministry of “Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism”, which is very welcome. The previous governments claimed only they could maintain foreign relations and bring investors, and that without them the country would fall. Showing those naysayers otherwise, Hon. Vijitha Herath and the two Deputy Ministers are strengthening foreign relations, attracting many investors, attending international forums, and representing the country with dignity.

¶ 03 There was talk that tourists would not come to Sri Lanka. But tourism is rapidly developing. I thank the Deputy Ministers responsible.

¶ 04 Since morning, Opposition Members presented many ideas on the ministries of foreign affairs, foreign employment and environment. Some are old syllabus ideas. We have moved past the old syllabus; bring new proposals, learn the new syllabus. Some good suggestions, we will consider and use.

¶ 05 I wish to focus on tourism. Tourism is now the third-highest dollar earner and growing fast. Accordingly, we aim to bring over 3 million tourists in 2025. For that, hotel and related infrastructure must be developed. Registered hotel rooms are 53,229, but there is a significant unregulated segment without official data. Through the Ministry, Rs. 600 million is allocated to develop infrastructure in tourism zones, especially in Ella, and also Madulsima, Trincomalee, Mirissa, Kalpitiya and others. This is commendable.

¶ 06 In 2024, total investments in tourism were US$ 40 million. In the first two and a half months of 2025 alone, investments have exceeded US$ 20 million, reflecting investor confidence. We are seeing both foreign and Sri Lankan investors stepping forward within two to four months the amount invested over a whole previous year.

¶ 07 We have old forts in Mannar, Kalpitiya, Batticaloa, etc. Funds have been allocated to develop them as new tourism hubs. I commend the Foreign Affairs Ministry for that.

¶ 08 The renowned Condé Nast Traveler has listed Sri Lanka as the best country to travel with family in 2025 and also as an excellent country to settle with family. Tourism is growing rapidly.

¶ 09 I propose that a tourist arriving on 15 March 2025 should be attracted to return on 15 March 2026, 2027 and so on. We must create reasons for repeat visits—10, 20 times. For that, we need new tourism centres in addition to Kandy, Down South, Ella, Trincomalee. We must move beyond traditional culture/environment/history products into ecotourism, geotourism, outbound tourism and medical tourism.

¶ 10 The central government and provinces should work together. As an initial step, in the North Western Province, we have programmes centred on Kurunegala and Puttalam, promoting cultural tourism via Kurunegala, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Panduwasnuwara, Ridiviharaya, and in Puttalam District developing sites and legends such as Thammennawa and Kuweni. Research is underway, with resource persons engaged.

¶ 11 Sri Lanka has no dedicated place for foreign researchers to do “research tourism” on ecosystems and environment as an experience. We plan to develop areas around Puttalam, Kalpitiya, Tabbowa and Eluwankulama focusing on prehistoric rocks and botanical value. Wilpattu National Park currently has a distant entrance via Anuradhapura side; under the current tourism promotion, we plan a new access via Eluwankulama. We also plan to promote tourism zones along the Dutch and Hamilton Canals around Nattandiya and Madampe.

¶ 12 Our female migrant workers go abroad mainly due to lack of jobs and enterprise opportunities here. By developing tourism, we can create local employment for women who would otherwise go to the Middle East as vulnerable workers, enabling them to care for their children and live with dignity.

¶ 13 Finally, most tourists come from Europe, many from Russia. Although Russian is an optional O/L subject, 99 percent of schools do not teach it. In the North Western Province, no school teaches Russian. To promote tourism, I propose including Russian, French and Arabic at GCE O/L by coordinating with the Education Ministry and others. This will also help develop tourism. I conclude.

¶ 14 Thank you very much.