By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): The main tourism plan for Arugam Bay was presented by Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of the Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake, during a meeting convened at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss the Arugam Bay Tourism Development Plan.
The Arugam Bay Tourism Development Plan, has the potential to significantly contribute to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, according to presidential media division.
During the discussion, the issues identified in the initial meeting led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the steps taken to address them were thoroughly examined
The President announced the swift implementation of a comprehensive plan to elevate the Arugam Bay tourist zone into a highly desirable destination for both local and international tourists, with the potential to generate substantial revenue.
He emphasized the importance of meticulous planning in identifying areas that necessitate development, with the intention of executing these initiatives systematically.
The President further highlighted the prospect of achieving significant income by promoting water sports such as water skiing, which holds popularity along the Arugam Bay coastline.
In the process of developing the Arugam Bay Coastline into a prominent tourist destination, a proposal was put forth to relocate the existing fishing port to an alternative location, equipped with necessary facilities for fishermen.
The special meeting held under the patronage of presidential chief of staff Saga la Ratnayake focused attention on the challenges related to infrastructure development in the area and the obstacles hindering the growth of the tourism sector.
Participants from various organizations also discussed how each institution could contribute to finding solutions to these challenges.
During the discussion, Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka presented the main tourism plan for Arugam Bay, prepared by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) while a three-year tourism development plan is also due to be presented before the President for consideration.
The relevant meeting was held under Ratnayake’s chairmanship, and it was also agreed that a follow-up meeting would be held in a month to assess the progress of these initiatives.
The Arugam Bay Tourism Association (ABTA) is working actively once again to woo tourists to the area According to tourism officials, infrastructure development is the need of the day as post-tsunami reconstruction has not matched the expectations of modern day tourism.
The new Arugam Bay Bridge constructed to replace the old, original landmark box girder linking Arugam Bay with Pottuvil town seems the only significant sign of development.
The 45 km stretch of golden beach from Pottuvil to Okanda is the base for future development in Sri Lanka.
It has great surfing, wildlife sanctuaries, and heritage sites, places of religiously importance as well as opportunities for adventure and nature holidays with camping facilities.
