SAARC Diary: Sri Lanka Re-opens for Foreign Tourists
COLOMBO, Jan 23: Sri Lanka has re-opened for international travellers. The Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena under the motto “New Normal and Safe and Healthy Tourism,” said Sri Lanka after internal deliberations and ensuring the protection and security of its residents and tourists has opened its borders for international travellers to visit the country.
Gunawardena was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the first virtual conference of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and welcomed the initiative of Turkey to arrange a virtual meeting and assured that Sri Lanka is committed to the ambitious work plan of the ACD in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations to foster inclusive development.
The Minister said in line with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” National Policy Framework, Sri Lanka is concentrating on friendly and non-aligned foreign policy with special emphasis on Asia.
Gunawardena added, “Sri Lanka is aware of the strategic impact that science, technology and innovation could bring to the 2030 Agenda, and that the significance of it has been amply demonstrated by the fact that the world has adopted the ‘new normal’ in varying degrees with a view to adapting to the disruption that the pandemic has created.” He insisted that all member states need to participate more by developing information exchange networks in order to recover together as a global problem.
According to a statement by the Sri Lankan foreign ministry, the meeting also adopted the Ankara Declaration on the reduction of the adverse effects of the pandemic and recovery for Tourism. Government of Sri Lanka with a view to reviving the travel industry has made special arrangements and provided concessions to the services sector impacted by global travel restrictions and incorporating optimistic measures to steadily open up while remaining vigilant.
It said the member states whose economies are dependent to a greater part on tourism will recognise the importance placed by governments to ensure the welfare and protection of all those participating in the service industry and it is therefore important to work in a transparent manner with all States and assist each other in seeking solutions together.
In order to improve trade and keep supply chains going, a group of representatives of the Sri Lanka Chamber and officials of the Sri Lankan Export Development Board participated in the meeting.
(Venkatesh Iyer)
