The Hon. Upul Kithsiri

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, Hon. T.K. Jayasundara has presented a Private Members’ Motion to designate the ecosystem encompassing Pitigala, Udugama, Neluwa, and Deniyaya as a tourism zone.

¶ 02 Sri Lanka has become a country that attracts many domestic and foreign tourists. We can develop tourism across four main pillars: our natural ecosystems, cultural heritage, hospitality, and educational/research tourism. The proposal seeks to brand the zone around Sinharaja Rainforest as a tourism area.

¶ 03 Sinharaja is among the world’s foremost natural forests and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989. Over 20 animal species and around 340 plant species are recorded, including 192 species endemic to Sri Lanka and about 15 endemic to Sinharaja itself.

¶ 04 There are four main access routes: Deniyaya–Pallekanda, Kalawana–Weddagala, Rakwana–Morning Side, and Hiniduma–Neluwa. As proposed, the route from Galle to Ratnapura allows visits via Neluwa, Deniyaya, Morning Side, and Rakwana. Roads such as Rakwana–Sooriya Kanda are complete; Ambilipitiya–Sooriya Kanda is under construction; and Galle–Deniyaya–Ratnapura stretch is also developed, improving access. We must promote the area online domestically and internationally while safeguarding the ecosystem. I consider this Motion timely and progressive.