Sri Lankan government gives clearance to launch cable car project in the hill country
The Government Information Department of Sri Lanka has announced that the Cabinet of Minister has given the green light for initial clearance to launch a cable car project in the hill country town of Nuwara Eliya targeting local and foreign tourists.
The Department has stated that a US$ 50 million project has been proposed by a firm called Outdoor Engineering Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and its partner Doppelmayr Cable Car, which is a foreign firm.
Accordingly, the firm is to build a cable car system on 21 towers running from the Nanu Oya railway station to Lake Gregory in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya also known as Little England is around 8 kilometers away from Nanu Oya and is a much sought after tourist destination in Sri Lanka.
According to the Information Department, the cable car system will also connect the Nuwara Eliya Race Course and Single Tree Hill.
It is expected to operate 86 cars which can carry 10 passengers each and 43 cars are expected to be built in the first stage.
The Cabinet of Ministers had reportedly given clearance to set up a project with the state investment promotions agency, the Board of Investment (BOI).
The proposal on the project was submitted to Cabinet Sri Lanka’s Minister of Plantations Industries.
OSL take:
The proposed cable car project would definitely be an added attraction among foreign tourists. It would undoubtedly add to Sri Lanka’s destination package. Also, the interest shown by the foreign company to invest in Sri Lanka’s tourism development programme is indicative of the level of confidence foreign businesses have on the growth potential of the country’s tourism sector. Foreign businesses/investors could explore the opportunities in proposing novel development programmes targeting Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/04072019/Z_1 |