CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA 
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Sri Lanka could top 2.7million tourist arrivals with promotion: Janaka Rathnayaka
Colombo, August 17 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka has the potential to exceed 2.7 million tourist arrivals this year if the country is strategically promoted and positioned as a global travel destination, former Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Rathnayaka said.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of his latest venture, Trillium Express Hotel, Rathnayaka said Sri Lanka is targeting three million tourist arrivals in 2025.
“By the end of July, 1.3 million tourists had already arrived. That leaves just 1.7 million more to achieve our target. If we position Sri Lanka as a premier tourist destination, surpassing 2.7 million arrivals this year is well within reach,” he said.
He noted that international rating agencies have ranked Sri Lanka among the best travel destinations in the world. “Considering safety and cleanliness, our country is ahead of many other Asian nations. With proper promotion and by leveraging our full potential, Sri Lanka could attract at least five million tourists within the next two to three years,” he added.
However, Rathnayaka highlighted challenges in the hospitality sector, particularly the lack of a structured system to recruit and train employees.
“We talk about 40,000 unemployed graduates and another 400,000 people without jobs in the country. Every year, 25 percent of students fail to pass the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination. If we can absorb these individuals into the hotel industry through proper training, we can both strengthen the sector and significantly reduce unemployment,” he said.
Rathnayaka further said that he is prepared to provide hotel school training opportunities for students who are unable to pass the O/L examination, thereby equipping them with employable skills while supporting the country’s tourism-driven economic growth.
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