Delegation Maldivian of over 100 MPs and VIPs to engage in goodwill visit to Sri Lanka
A delegation of over 100 Parliamentarians and VIPs from Maldives will be arriving in Sri Lanka today (14) on a goodwill visit to build confidence in the safety and security of the country internationally, The Sunday Morning has reported.
The delegation will arrive on three separate flights and will stay at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo, one of the three hotels damaged by the Easter attacks.
“It’s a large delegation and they will stay in Colombo to showcase that Sri Lanka is safe. They will also spend one night in Ahungalla to show that not just Colombo, but even outstation areas are safe. If it is safe for VVIPs such as these why is it not safe for regular tourists?” Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Kishu Gomes has told The Sunday Morning Business.
The delegation, which includes the Maldivian Vice President and Speaker, has been invited by Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and a press conference about the significance of the visit chaired by Wickremesinghe is scheduled for Saturday (15).
SLTPB is providing accommodation and inland transportation for the delegation but according to Gomes there will be no excessive expenses for the institution.
“This is the first time such a big parliamentary delegation is coming to Sri Lanka simply as a goodwill gesture and confidence building initiative. There will be just over 50 rooms because most of them will be sharing rooms. So the entire budget for this is just a few millions of rupees,” he has said.
The delegation will leave the island on Sunday (16).
OSL take:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi already visited Sri Lanka and the US Secretary of State is expected in the island towards the end of the month. It is in this backdrop that the 100 plus VIP delegation from the Maldives arrive in Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit. All these are indication of the strong international support enjoyed by Sri Lanka and that the country is safe for foreigners to visit. Given the positive signs shown by the country’s tourism industry of a quick revival following the setback suffered due to the Easter Sunday attacks, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/14062019/Z_8 |