Nearly 200 IS-inspired activists in custody – PM
Nearly 200 Islamic State (IS)-inspired activists, together with their sympathisers are in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday (31).
Speaking at a tourism forum at Temple Trees, he further said all IS-inspired terrorists were in custody. Forthcoming public ceremonies such as the Esala Perahera will be held as scheduled amidst security, the Premier said.
Wickremesinghe also said the loss of revenue due to a free visa facility on board from this month (August), a loss of Rs 4.3 billion estimated for this year, would, however, be countermanded by increased tourist arrivals because of this facility.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Kishu Gomes, another speaker at this occasion, said they were working closely with military intelligence on the aspect of security to tourists in the aftermath of ‘Bloody Easter Sunday.’ Gomes said the 26 October 2018 political coup too had negative repercussions on the industry.
He said, world over, it took an average of 13 months for a country impacted by terrorism to recover, Gomes felt that in Sri Lanka’s case, the time taken would be much less. For instance, tourist numbers, June over May increased by 67 per cent to 63,000 on a Month on Month (MoM) basis, while this percentage recovery, on a MoM basis to last month (July) is expected to further increase by over 80 per cent to 117,000, he said.
Gomes said that they expected the tourism numbers this year (2019) to end at a figure of 1.9 million to two million, a 30 per cent year on year (YoY) drop, while the revenue loss would be between US$ 800 million to US$ 1,000 million. Tourism Minister John Amaratunga, who also spoke at this event, said that last year (2018), tourism raked in US$ 4.5 billion to the country.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Ministry, yesterday, announced one-month visa-free arrival facilities to tourists and business travellers from 47 countries, beginning from this month (August), for a period of six months, taking the total number of countries enjoying such facilities to 49.
Those included the 28-member European Union (EU) bloc, North America; Australia-New Zealand, the Far East other than North Korea and Taiwan, South East Asia other than Brunei, Myanmar and Laos, Israel, Norway, Ukraine and Russia. Previously, the Maldivian and Singaporean citizens were afforded visa-free facilities, a facility which will continue.
When Ceylon Today queried Amaratunga by how much they expected to uplift tourism numbers through this scheme, he said that he would have to wait till the month end (end August) to assess its success.
He further said countries which are to be granted free visas from this month, were countries which requested for such a benefit.
“Any country can apply for visa-free status to its citizens and we will consider such requests,” Amaratunga said.
(Source: Ceylon Today – By Paneetha Ameresekere)
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These guys are dreaming.
The PM boasts about 200 IS activists arrested. Dear Ranil, there are thousands more budding activists knocking at GOSL’s doorstep.
Kishu Gomes, is he a UNPer?
He is dreaming and wrecking the moral stature of our Nation.
What is tourism? It is not the Pinnawela Elephants nor Yala.
Tourism in SL is all about our youth selling their bodies to ageing Europeans and LGBTIQ from rich countries.
Kishu, if I were you, I will be in the forefront of limiting tourism and also, make sure tourist from rich countries pay proper prices for the facilities that they enjoy.
Excellent comment William,
Through this Tourism business which earns revenue to enable Politicians to renew their bullet-proof BMW’s at regular intervals, SL is an established Nation of Prostitutes, both men and women, catering to the needs of ageing ‘rich’ Europeans.
Tourism is ‘Haram’ to the Muslims.
If ” tourism is haram to Muslims” as suggested by Fareena Fakutelly,
why
1) did Minister Hizbullah state that he changed boards to depict Arabic for the benefit of Arabic tourists
2) Why is there a holiday business showcasing Sri Lanka as ” halal holidays”??
Question to Ms Fareena Fakutelly
” tourism is haram to the Muslims”
Is this why the Islamic terrorists targeted tourists (in addition to Christians) to prevent further tourists from coming, and crush our tourism industry??
Harsha D and Dushi,
Thank you for your valuable response.
Tourism is definitely ‘haram’.
See, our beautiful beaches in the south, they have been wrecked by all the stupid concrete buildings and swimming pools to house the tourists.
And see who is coming, elderly European Women and LGBTIQ from Europe!
Why are they coming?
Because our young women and men are offering their bodies for a couple of dollars to the foreigners.
On the other hand, look at Hizbullah’s tourism?
That is not aimed at bringing fleshpots to wreck our youth and beaches.
Hizbullah’s tourism is to attratact real USD for development of our country which will open up opportunities to our Youth.
Example, is the Batticaloa Campus in Kattankudy; it attratcted USD 240m from a private financier.
Isn’t that great?
I am inclined to agree with what Fareena Fukutelly has to say about tourism and the reaction saharans terror has baquished tourism. The arabs would definitely flock t sri lanka not so much for the beadhes but because the freedom musli m women i particular would love to enjoy. If Fareena says something to the contarary is false for Fareena hers;ef would loveto liberalise muslim women in the arab world which is a monumental task becuasea the system in the arab world has a tight grip on what women could do nd cannot do. Inspite of the US occupation in Afaganistana and Iraq women continue to be slaves under the system.
Thank You Sama for agreeing with me.
Muslim men, by birthright, can have 7 wives.
That birthright cannot be removed by Law.