The newly appointed Chairman, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM), formerly known as Ceylon Hotel School, Cornel Perera Monday predicted an unprecedented tourism boom in the country in the emerging post settlement era once the war against the LTTEcomes an end. "we have to be geared to meet the demand created by the situation," he said.

The well known entrepreneur and hotel developer addressing a news conference in Colombo said there will be a situation in Sri Lanka similar to that in in VietNam in the post war period and many who had read and heard about the war in Sri Lanka would want to visit here to see to themselves what is left behind by the three decade long war he said.

Perera pointed out that the standards and the quality in the industry have to be improved and the SLITHM will have to play a key role in this aspect.

He assured "I will deliver the goods and take the SLITHM to new heights thus developing the curriulam to degree level,"

Plans are underway to invite lecturers from overseas and the World Bank assistance will sought for the development of the SLITHM, he said.

SLITHM is the best in the country and one of the best in the region,but the curriculam has to be revised and engineered to suit today’s purpose and elevate to international standards Perera stressed.

Perera also emphasized the need to have the students passing out from the SLITHM to possess a high standard of English if we are to reach international level.

Director of the SLITHM and veteran hotelier, renowned lecturer Kamal Hapuwatte said that the University Grants Commission approval is required to offer degrees by the SLITHMand it is bieng worked out. Already the SLITHM is affiliated to two leading Educational Colleges in the UK, namely Burnmouth and Poole College and Northumberland College and they will be awarding the degrees to SLITHMgraduates.