Deputy Tourism Minister Faizer Musthapha and EPChief Minister S. Chandrakanthan in Japan

Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan pledged his commitment to peace and democracy after he visited Hiroshima recently Deputy Tourism Minister Faizer Musthapha told "The Island".

Speaking about the Chief Minister’s visit to JATA Travel Fair in Tokyo Muthapha said that he met top officials of the Tourism Industry as well as the Foreign Ministry in Japan and appealed the them to focus on providing assistance to develop the Tourism industry in the East.

In Japan he had the opportunity of learning how tourism, is being developed in Japan and Chandrakanthan had discussions with Masato Otaka, Director, South West Asia Division of the Japanese Foreign Ministry and he specially requested Japanese Technical Expertise to develop Eastern Tourism.

He also sought assistance to construct a fully fledged hotel school in Batticaloa and Otaka showed interest providing assistance to the Eastern Province which has been liberated from the clutches of terrorists," Musthapha said.

Chandrakanthan in his discussions with the Japanese Tourism Authorities had explained about Arugam Bay which is a surfers’ paradise, a sport which the Japanese love but was lost to the Maldives because of terrorism and the destruction caused by the Tsunami, he said.

Deputy Minister Muthapha said "Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda is determined to devolve more power to the Eastern Provincial Council to develop tourism in the area since they know best about what is needed and how best it can be done."