The Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I am pleased to join the debate on the 2024 Mid-Year Fiscal Position. We speak of economic development and daily hardships. We will give full cooperation to rebuild the economy and make Sri Lanka a developed nation, while highlighting regional needs.

¶ 02 Tourism is a leading revenue earner. We speak much about it, yet little substantial work is seen. The Eastern Province is now a prime tourism area: thousands visit Arugam Bay near Pottuvil. Yet it is not even gazetted as a tourism zone. No beach-cleaning machine has been provided by the Tourism Ministry or the SLTDA to the local authorities. A seaplane landing dock built earlier has remained in disrepair for years, preventing seaplane operations. There is no Fire Brigade facility, so the UDA does not permit hotels above three floors. These small constraints block growth in one of the country’s key tourism destinations. I urge the Minister to fix these urgently.

¶ 03 Batticaloa Airport has been gazetted as an international airport; runway and parking have been improved. This morning, officials told me terminal facilities are inadequate, preventing international operations and meeting airline requirements. If resolved, as IndiGo and Alliance Air bring passengers directly to Jaffna International Airport, tourists could be flown directly to Pasikuda, Kinniya, Pottuvil/Arugam Bay and even Polonnaruwa via Batticaloa International Airport. Please take steps to secure ICAO certification with necessary terminal upgrades.

¶ 04 Also, there is no Passport Office in the Eastern Province, though the North, South and Central have offices. People from the East, Polonnaruwa and Uva must spend about three days to come to Colombo for passports. I request an Immigration and Emigration office in Batticaloa at the earliest.

¶ 05 Trincomalee Harbour is the world’s second-largest natural harbour; cruise ships already call there. Please gazette it as a tourist harbour and provide terminal facilities to develop Eastern tourism. I conclude. Thank you.