The Hon. Chandana Thennakoon

¶ 01 [4.24 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to join the debate on Regulations under Act No. 1 of 1969 to enable importation of vehicles necessary for promoting the tourism industry.

¶ 03 Tourism is rebounding rapidly; we are laying the foundation for strong growth. This year we aim for three million tourists and US$ 5 billion in revenue. Compared to last year, arrivals are up: January 2024 up 21%, February up 10%, March up 10%, April up 17%, May up 18%, June up 21%, and August up 20%. We are modernizing the sector to match this momentum, aligning with global trends while leveraging our natural environment, culture, and heritage.

¶ 04 Tourism had been coastal-focused. Our next target is to take visitors inland, develop new destinations, and build a community- and environment-centric tourism model. We have identified new zones, especially in the North Western Province. The Government is intervening to develop destinations in districts like Anuradhapura. The North Western Province is a major tourism asset: from Halawatha (Chilaw), Kalpitiya, Puttalam on one side, to Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, and Panduwasnuwara—the four ancient capitals—on the other. We can also develop reservoir-based tourism tied to agriculture. Suitable sites abound—e.g., in Galgamuwa: Ataragalla, Ambakolavewa, Palukadawala, Maha Siyambalangamuwa, and Rajanganaya. Kaduru Wewa—famous from films and teledramas—sits at the foothills in a scenic area. Nearby, Ulpane Watta Yoga Retreat is already operating in Ambulugama. There is scope for investors to enter new zones. We expect significant transformation and investments in these areas in coming years.

¶ 05 A key barrier is poor rural road and infrastructure access—neglected by the past government. For example, the artistic stone Bodhigaraya at Nillakkagama, Galgamuwa—H.C.P. Bell went there in 1895, and Paranavitana in 1954 for conservation—yet to this day people travel the same un-upgraded path. While generations from that area sat in Parliament and governed, they did not develop basic infrastructure for tourism. This Government has planned to build tourism using inner reservoir systems and sacred sites like Yapahuwa, Haththikuchchi, and Rasvehera.

¶ 06 In 2021 tourism hit its lowest point; step by step we are advancing with economic stabilization. Government Members have outlined the stabilization achieved. Tourism will be a major contributor as the country moves forward. While stabilizing, we have implemented numerous welfare measures: increased the minimum basic salary of public servants from Rs. 24,500 to Rs. 40,000; the President has announced further public sector raises in the next Budget; increased pensioners’ payments by Rs. 3,000; private sector minimum wage by Rs. 7,000; elders’ allowance by Rs. 2,000; disability allowance from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000; and the kidney patients’ allowance from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000. Fuel prices were reduced, rule of law programs advanced, all while stabilizing the economy.

¶ 07 On June 21 our Government completed one year. Within that year we have built a foundation for a prosperous future and better lives as promised. Some in the Opposition, both inside and outside the House, seem only to recycle past rhetoric. They long to become President or Vice President, leading to strange conduct and claims. One Member asked for bank account details of all 159 NPP MPs—baseless critiques to pass time. We tell the Opposition: the people entrusted the country to the National People’s Power out of trust. We are taking the difficult steps for transformative change, and the people will walk thousands of steps with us.