Tourism stumped by northern travel ban
View(s):Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was caught unawares after the Government announced restrictions on travel to the north for foreigners.
While one industry body said they had received news of the restriction and noted that henceforth it would take 2-3 days to get clearance for foreigners to visit the north, at least two other associations were unaware and expressed surprise.
“I thought the ban was temporary due to the President’s visit to the north last week,” one association official said.
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Director General Dr. D.S. Jayaweera, when asked about these developments, said he had also read about the restrictions in the newspapers. “We have not got any communication, as yet.” He said 8.6 per cent of tourists to Sri Lanka visit the north.
Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said this is not a new development. “It (restrictions on travel for foreigners) has been there, not relaxed but ‘less implemented’. It was never taken off.”
He said on-and-off in the past there were requests to travel to the north like the request that came recently from the Swiss embassy which sent a list of people and wanted permission. He said tourist operatives are aware. “This won’t hinder any movement of travellers and in emergency situations we are fast and flexible,” he said adding that the rationale for the move was security reasons and the protection and safety of all including the people there.