The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism proudly hosted the official appointment ceremony for the newly formed Tourism Advisory Committee under Section 32(1) of the Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005. The event, held on 18^th March 2025, marked a significant milestone in advancing Sri Lanka’s thriving tourism industry.

Hon. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, along with Hon. Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, presided over the ceremony. During the event, the esteemed members of the committee received their official appointment letters and formally assumed their roles.

In his opening remarks, Hon. Minister Herath emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The Tourism Advisory Committee represents a collaborative effort to harness expertise, drive innovation, and uplift Sri Lanka’s position as a global tourism destination. We look forward to the valuable contributions of the newly appointed members in shaping the future of this vital sector.”

The ceremony was attended by key stakeholders and leaders across the tourism industry, reflecting the collective enthusiasm for fostering sustainable growth and promoting Sri Lanka as a preferred travel destination.

The newly appointed members included Mr. Buddhika Hewawasam , Chairman , Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Mr. Dheera Hettiarachchi, Chairman – Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Mr. Dileep Mudadenitya, Chairman – Tourism Advisory Committee, Senior Vice President – John Keells Holdings, Mr. Nihal Muhandiram, Vice President – EKHO Hotels and Resorts, Galle Face Hotels Group, Mr. Dharshana M. Perera, Senior Director General – Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mr. Donald Rajapaksha, National Coordinator – Chamber of Tourism and Industry, Professor D.A.C. Suranga Silva, Coordinator – Sustainable Tourism Unit (STU), Faculty of Arts, Department of Economics, University of Colombo,Mr. Lasantha de Fonseka, Managing Director & Founder – Tiesh (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Chandra Wickramasinghe, Chairman/MD – Connaissance de Ceylon & Thema Collection, Mr. Ajith Perera, Designer, Owner – Craft Tunnel, Mr. Dharshan Munidasa, Chef, Creator & Owner – Nihonbashi, Ministry of Crab, Prof. Sarath Munasinghe, Senior Lecturer – Department of Tourism Management, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Gerard George Ondaatjie, Deputy Chairman/Managing Director – Nuwaraeliya Hotels Company (PLC).

The Ministry extends its heartfelt congratulations to all appointees and appreciates their commitment to contributing toward the country’s economic development and cultural preservation through tourism.