John wants financial institutions not supporting tourism recovery dealt with

Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga wants the authorities to revoke the licences of financial institutions which fail to implement the financial relief package introduced to help the tourism sector recovery in the aftermath of the Easter bombings.

Amaratunga this week told reporters in Colombo that he would make a request to the authorities to revoke the licences of financial institutions which fail to comply with granting the announced financial relief package as per the guidelines issued by the Central Bank.

The authorities are scheduled to hold a meeting with the heads of financial institutions in Parliament today to evaluate the progress of granting the financial relief package to the tourism sector. 

“We want to communicate to them that they have to implement the relief package announced by the government. 

Otherwise, we will make a request to cancel their licences,” Amaratunga said.

Key ministers, Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy and top government officials are scheduled to attend the meeting. 

Amaratunga noted that in particular, finance and leasing firms are lagging behind in grating the concessions to the tourism sector.