Sri Lanka ready for pact on tourism

KOCHI: Sri Lanka is keen to join hands with Kerala for the promotion of tourism between the two places in a mutually beneficial manner.

Sri Lankan Tourism Minister John A. Amaratunga told reporters in Kochi on Friday that he would extend an official invitation to state Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran to visit the island nation for further discussions.

“We are keen to increase the number of tourists from South India to Sri Lanka in a big way,” Mr. Amaratunga, who was in Kochi as part of a road show of the Sri Lankan tourism department, said.

Stating that Sri Lanka tourism has immense variety to offer, he pointed out the proximity factor and the long cultural relations between Sri Lanka and India will provide the impetus for the tourism growth between the two countries.

The tourism industry in the island nation was getting back to normal after the bombing incident as the government had eliminated all terrorists linked to the incident, he said.

Discussions were held with the Union government for starting ferry services between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu for tourist traffic, he said.