A USD 77 million project will be launched to restore historic and ancient buildings around Colombo Fort and develop the area into a major tourism zone, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced in the 2027 Budget.
Presenting the Budget in Parliament today (12), the President said the project would be implemented with financial assistance from the World Bank, while preserving the historical and architectural value of the buildings.
The Budget also proposes developing Sri Lanka's historic Dutch forts in Jaffna, Mannar, Kalpitiya and Batticaloa as tourism hubs through public-private partnerships (PPPs), with Rs. 240 million expected to be allocated from underutilised funds of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
Meanwhile, the Government plans to establish a cruise tourism passenger terminal at the Port of Colombo as part of efforts to strengthen the country's position in the international cruise tourism industry.
A further Rs. 240 million will be deployed from SLTDA funds to modernise passenger terminal facilities in Galle, Tangalle and Trincomalee and expand services for tourists.
The Government has also proposed a Rs. 500 million concessionary loan programme for tourism service providers to purchase equipment, including boats, required to expand marine tourism. The funding will be provided through the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
In another initiative, Rs. 300 million from SLTDA funds will be allocated to review and further strengthen the Southern Mist Triangle tourism project, centred on the Sinharaja evergreen rainforest and covering the Galle, Matara and Ratnapura districts.
An additional Rs. 35 million has been proposed to establish a centralised online electronic ticketing system for major tourist attractions across the country, supplementing the Rs. 133 million capital contribution already provided by the SLTDA.
The Budget also allocates Rs. 500 million to develop the Indian-assisted trilingual school premises in Polonnaruwa into a hotel school and further develop the Pinnawala Hotel School.
Addressing tourist safety, President Dissanayake announced plans to strengthen the Tourist Police service through specialised training, multilingual officers, dedicated patrol units around major tourist attractions, a 24-hour tourist emergency hotline and a mobile application.
The President said Sri Lanka's diverse tourism attractions represented a major strength of the industry, which plays an important role in generating foreign exchange and employment.
Tourism earnings amounted to USD 2,245 million by September this year, he noted, adding that the Government was focusing on expanding tourism opportunities to strengthen rural economies and generate employment.
