Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Tourism entered into an Implementation Programme of Mutual Cooperation on Tourism between Sri Lanka and the Islamic Republic of Iran for the period from 2007-2010.

The implementation programme was formally signed by both Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Tourism and Esfandyar Rahim Mashaee, Vice President and President of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran on November 13, 2007 in Teheran.

In terms of the programme, information centres will be set up both in Colombo and Teheran to facilitate travellers with sufficient information of the destinations. The programme also provides for cooperation in the field of hotels and resorts development and educational training institutes while encouraging familiarization tours for professional journalists.

Exchange of promotional material such as documentation, CDs, films and periodical publications pertaining to tourist attractions can be exchanged between the two countries as provided within the framework of the programme. Most importantly, Article 10 of the implementation programme makes provisions for setting up of a Working Group comprising tourism experts and representatives of the public and private sectors for the purpose of implementation of the agreement.

On the Sri Lankan side George Michael, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Tourism will head of the working group. Renton de Alwis, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Prema Cooray, Chairman, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and S Palihakkara, Chairman, SLITHA will serve in the Committee.

On behalf of the private sector, Rajan Britto, Susantha Rathnayake, Hiran Cooray, Abbas Esufally and Mervyn Fernandopulle have been appointed by the minister.