The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Buddhika Hewawasam has tendered his resignation, citing personal and professional reasons.

Hewawasam submitted his resignation in a letter addressed to the Minister of Tourism, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, through the Secretary to the Ministry.

In his letter, he said it had been a privilege to serve as SLTDA Chairman following an invitation from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, adding that he had sought to carry out his responsibilities in the national interest and with a focus on institutional integrity.

Hewawasam served as chairman from October 2024 to August 2026.

In his resignation letter, he noted that Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever number of tourist arrivals during his tenure, despite challenges including natural disasters, global socio-political crises affecting travel from key markets and operational limitations at the airport.

He also highlighted that Sri Lanka received more than 15 international tourism accolades in 2025, placing the country among leading global tourism destinations.

Hewawasam said he had worked to bring tourism industry stakeholders together around national tourism objectives while building confidence in the government’s tourism strategy and policy direction.

He also pointed to greater transparency within the SLTDA as a key focus during his tenure, noting that transparency had been an important concern within the tourism industry.

In his letter, Hewawasam said he would support an orderly transition to the incoming leadership in the best interests of the SLTDA and the country.