Sri Lankan Expatriates and the boost to Tourism

The virtual end of civil war and commotion has enabled a large number of Sri Lankans to visit their home country, some of them going there after more than a lapse of twenty long years.Many of them left their homes in a hurry leaving behind all their treasured possessions. The absence of gun fire, roaring helicopter sounds and shelling has dared most of them to go and see their habitats.

Expatriates, mainly Tamils from Canada, Australia, Western Europe and the U.K make Sri Lanka their favorite holiday destination.They come to visit their relatives, tour their favorite sites, and attend weddings and other family functions with all enthusiasm and splendor. For them, Sri Lanka is home, sweet home. Peace, political stability, global travel facilities have helped them to realize their dreams.

Making use of the peaceful environment, the government has taken steps to give a new boost to its tourist industry. Now it is estimated that there about 500,000 tourist visiting the island every year, specially from Western Europe, South Asia, North East Asia, Eastern Europe, Australia and North America. Wild life parks and Zoos are upgraded. Hotel-building and recreational facilities are being accelerated.

Sri Lanka with its more than 1000 kilometers of coastline, rainforest and wild- life parks abounds with a variety of holiday attractions. It is also gifted with eight UNESCO World Heritage sites.Tourists feel that Sri Lanka is an affordable destination and they can get their moneys' worth of food and entertainment. Already the international tourists coming into the island nation have increased Sri Lanka has the location advantage of being in the middle of the Old world and tourists could easily access it from all parts of the world.

Government still has to do many things to better the situation. The transport facilities have to be improved. The main road to the North has to be renovated early. People travelling by bus have to undergo several hardships as the roads are filled with pot-holes and ill-maintained terrain.The railways lines have still to be re-laid after the years of terrorism and conflicts. The security situation in the North has still to be re-established.

There are frequent incidents of theft, kidnapping and unnecessary loss of lives which have to be stopped immediately. Political revenge-taking and vested interests of political sycophants should be abolished. The ethnic problem should be solved constructively, amicably and expeditiously. It has taken its toll over the years and as Colvin R De silver put it, it should never be allowed to continue corroding the body politic of the nation'. If the total money spent on war and conflicts were used for national development Sri Lanka would have been a veritable paradise on earth. The island nation has lost tremendously due to continued arms struggle which has not found a lasting panacea for the continuing ills of the nation.

The peace established should be preserved and the country should flourish. Sri Lanka has all the natural assets, but it’s only the human activities that have to be improved and made better. As the Tamil poet and sage, Valluvar put it , 'Nellum Uyiranre, neerum uyir anre; Mannan Uyirthe maalr thalai ulagam" . It is good government that is the essence of peace and prosperity.

Moreover Tourism needs an overall and comprehensive development. A facelift is vital for all historical and cultural sites. New avenues could be open as health resorts. Government has already engaged in new projects to boost its tourist industry. Infra-structural facilities as well as transport routes to tourist sites have to be renovated and maintained in good condition. Hassle free access is indispensable.

Recently Kalpitiya area in the North West is to be developed under the Kalpitiya Integrated Report Project (KITRAP). The project will build 5000 eco-friendly hotel rooms in 4000 acres. The resort will be built with water spills and recreational facilities and will take four years to be completed.Everything augurs well for Sri Lanka but the peace and stability should be maintained at any cost.

Source = asiantribune