The Sri Lankan government is preparing to introduce a new bill aimed at revitalizing the country’s tourism sector. This proposed legislation will replace the existing Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005, marking a significant step in overhauling the industry’s legal and administrative framework.
An expert committee has been appointed to draft the bill, chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism. The Cabinet has granted approval for the bill’s formulation, which is based on a concept paper developed by this committee. The new legislation is expected to streamline and strengthen the administrative structure of the tourism industry, driving its growth and global competitiveness.
Speaking at the general meeting of the Sri Lanka National Institute of Tourist Guides and Lecturers held yesterday (06), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath emphasized the urgency of structural reform. He stated that the current Act does not support an integrated approach, and a new legal framework is essential to unify the sector’s various departments and institutions under a cohesive strategy.
Minister Herath further revealed that approximately 3,000 acres of land allocated to the tourism sector had been misused by political figures. He alleged that some of these lands had been fraudulently claimed using fake deeds. The government has since reclaimed these lands, which are now available for new tourism investments. The Minister issued an open invitation to both local and international investors to undertake tourism development projects on these reclaimed properties.
Additionally, recognizing the time required to finalize the new legal process, the Minister announced the forthcoming establishment of a Presidential Task Force within the next two weeks. This task force will coordinate and integrate all relevant departments and institutions in the interim, ensuring progress on tourism development efforts continues without delay.
“There are many valuable lands for tourism development across Sri Lanka,” Minister Herath noted. “Unfortunately, some of these were misappropriated by politicians and distributed among their close associates. We have already reclaimed 3,000 acres, and we are ready to partner with investors to build meaningful tourism projects on these lands.”
