06/09/2009 - Sunday Times - Financial Times

Tourism heads roll, industry concerned

 

A few resignations in the Sri Lanka Tourism hierarchy last week, connected to the change of minister, has caused some uneasiness in the industry at a time when boom times are ahead. The industry's two main associations representing hotels and travel agents are due to meet this week to review the situation. "We want to take stock of the situation as more changes are expected," one industry source said. On tuesday, Prema Cooray, Chairman of the state-run Sir Lanka Convention Bureau quit after he was asked to resign by the Tourism Ministry. A week earlier, Cornel Perera, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, also resigned, for the same reasons. Bernard Goonatillake, Chairperson of both the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau was continuing in his posts. All these appointments were made by former Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda. The changes are connected to plans by the new Tourism Minister Nandana Goonatillake to make his own appointments to these positions.