The Hon. S.M. Marikkar

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson, since our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism is in the House, this must be said. This is a crucial moment for dollar inflows to our country. Even if we say we can flood the Treasury with rupees, foreign debt cannot be settled in rupees. Foreign debt must be paid in dollars. A story has been created that foreign debt will be paid in 2028. That is an absolute lie. In 2028, only the USD 14.5 billion taken as International Sovereign Bonds are due. Until then, the loans taken from institutions like the World Bank, ADB and the IMF must be paid. Already, after taxes were increased in America, the import-export gap has widened by USD 600 million.

¶ 02 We must particularly note this. Our reserves are only USD 6.2 billion. We have to serve and pay foreign debt next year as well. Therefore, we draw the Minister’s attention to this. Comparing January to September last year with January to September this year, although the number of tourists has increased to some extent, income has increased by only USD 100 million. Likewise, remittances from migrant workers have increased only by USD 100-200 million. Therefore, to stabilize the country now and to stabilize it by servicing debt, and to reduce the trade deficit, dollars are essential.

¶ 03 Although your Government members have gone abroad many times, the capacity to bring foreign investments has not materialized. Bringing investors, increasing production here, bringing in dollars, exporting outputs – this Government lacks the skill to hunt for dollars. For many years, there have been two traditional income streams to our country: tourism and foreign remittances. You said a highly capable Government came. But now it has been a year. At least introduce a few creative measures, Hon. Minister.

¶ 04 Due to an issue that occurred during the previous Government’s time, we could not operationalize the second phase of the Katunayake Airport. That is true. Punish them; there is no issue. But today, one major reason we cannot significantly attract tourists is the limited space at the airport. It is sad for our country’s situation. Today, the private sector has put up about 12 marquees to receive tourists. Therefore, we propose this to you. We discussed this at the Sectoral Oversight Committee as well. Until the second phase of Katunayake Airport is completed, at least open the Ratmalana Airport. I have placed the relevant details before the House. I do not have the document with me now.

¶ 05 During the war, a directive was issued that planes cannot fly over Parliament, and Ratmalana landings were stopped. In reality, the Ratmalana runway is longer than the London City Airport runway. If planes can fly over the Pentagon, why can’t they fly over Sri Lanka’s Parliament? When asked, now they say the Army Headquarters is there, so it is not possible. Move beyond these outdated notions and understand the current needs of the country. To increase dollar income and to service debt with dollars, improve facilities for tourism and do the necessary work to bring in more tourists.

¶ 06 Also, some tourists just eat parotta and smoke plenty; they do not contribute much. Go to Arugam Bay and you can see. Now you all have mortgaged Arugam Bay to Israel. You who once stood for Palestine, conducted workshops and took positions, now after coming to Government, there is not even a word about Palestine. That is another story. Let us set aside that double standard. Go and see Arugam Bay now. It is full of people with war-like trauma, smoking plenty and eating parotta. At least do what is needed to increase per-tourist spending. We cannot just sit on a treasure and keep saying “be MMO” and get results. We said all this while we were in the Opposition as well.

¶ 07 Hon. Minister, visit the five-star hotels in Colombo. There is not even a brochure. The foreigners who come to Colombo do not even know that there is a zoo in Dehiwala. Some foreigners stand near Galle Face looking at the sky with hands on hips. Are they to just eat peanuts? Awareness programmes are essential. Tourism Promotion Bureau thinks that promotion means going to the London World Travel Market, the Germany Travel Mart – only foreign fairs. Therefore, understand that domestic promotion is not happening and do what is necessary. Also, when a foreigner in a five-star hotel goes out and asks a taxi where to go, the driver does not know what to say. Have a small trained team for that. That is the Ministry’s and the agency’s responsibility. Without such measures, I do not think you can develop the sector.

¶ 08 Another area to develop is wildlife tourism. We have 17 national parks. Many old bungalows are there. They charge about Rs. 25,000 for two nights. The argument is that ordinary people should also be able to pay and stay; keep a portion for that. But renovate and target high-spenders with a portion. Then, if you look at the numbers, it will surely become an additional revenue stream. I remember, during the UNP Government, I gave Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera – may he rest in peace – a 104-page book on how to earn USD 1 billion a year.