By Hiran Weliwitigoda
The Photographic Society of Sri Lanka is holding ‘Discover Mannar’, a photographic competition, to highlight and promote Mannar as a tourism destination in Sri Lanka. 
The photographic competition, organised in partnership with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Palmyrah House, is open to all amateur and professional photographers.
Tourism plays a significant role in Sri Lanka’s economy. It generates revenues, supports the growth of local businesses and creates direct and indirect employment. As a potential tourism hotspot, Mannar with its splendid natural surroundings and cultural history, can not only contribute more to the overall growth of the country’s tourism sector, but will positively impact local communities too. The photographic competition is part of IFC’s work in promoting tourism in Mannar.
The ‘Discover Mannar’ photographic competition, with support from the European Union under the European Union Support to District Development Programme (EU-SDDP), is divided into two categories – an open category and another for students below the age of 20 years. The competition will be judged by an expert panel of judges and selected winners will receive attractive prizes. The final photographs will also be showcased in an exhibition to be held in June.
Entries for the ‘Open Category’ can be submitted from May 1 to 31, 2017 as low resolution images to [email protected]. For the ‘Student Category’, entries should be uploaded to the Visit Mannar Facebook page (@visitmannar).
Information about the guidelines for the competition can be checked at www.pssl.lk. The entries for the competition will be used on social media – with due credits given to the photographer, to promote Mannar as a tourism destination.