A delegation of Sri Lankan Tourism officials returned after a comprehensive study tour in Singapore last week. This study was funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat in the face of new developments with total peace returning to Sri Lanka where it is now necessary to accelerate the programs with appropriate short and long term strategies towards achieving the overall mission of Sri Lanka Tourism declared by the President recently.

The program entailed a comprehensive understanding of practices adopted by Singapore Tourism in the sphere of planning, organizing and implementation of sustainable Tourism that benefit all stakeholders as well as its existing public/ private sector partnership that has opened up investment opportunities in Singapore.

The Meetings were wide ranging with high powered officials representing all relevant organizations in Singapore viz Singapore Tourism Board ( STB), Singapore Hotels Association (SHA), Singapore Hotel Tourism Education Centre ( SHATEC), Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA), National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS), SENTOSA Leisure Group, SUNTEC, National Environment Authority, Changi Airport Group, Hawkers Department , Marina Bay Sands Integrated resort, TIMS, Tourism Academy and Civil Aviation Authority.

News Straits Times of Singapore , following an interview with the Sri Lanka Team, coincided a story with the visit, conveying to its readers the positive outlook of Sri Lanka which could now attract investors, specially from the region

The Team, led by Tourism Authority and Promotion Bureau Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke consisted of Additional Secretary of the Ministry U. Basnayake, DG Hotel School Roy Jayasinghe, GM SL Convention Bureau Vipula Wanigasekera, , Director Trade Standards Upali de Silva and Director Domestic Tourism Upali Ratnayake. Sri Lanka High Commission Officials, High Commissioner Jayanthri Samarakoon, Deputy Saj Mendis and Minister Counselor Bandula Somasiri joined the delegation in Singapore.