Discussions on developing Colombo Fort as a tourism zone under World Bank loans and grants, as well as measures to promote Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, were held at the Presidential Secretariat today (24).

The meeting was held between World Bank Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Gevorg Sargsyan and a delegation of World Bank officials, and Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi.

The discussions focused extensively on matters that arose during a previous meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the proposed development of Colombo Fort as a tourism destination while preserving its historic heritage, the President’s Media Division said in a statement.

World Bank representatives said they were prepared to provide further support to promote Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and assist the country in achieving its targets in key sectors including agribusiness, ports and logistics, and energy.

The meeting also explored potential World Bank support for the development of the Colombo Fort tourism zone, as well as initiatives to promote nature-based tourism and expand tourism activities in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

The discussions form part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s tourism sector while making greater use of the country’s historic, natural and regional tourism assets, the PMD noted.

Stephan Massing, Senior Operations Officer of the World Bank’s Sri Lanka and Maldives management unit, and Asela Dissanayake, Chief Operations Officer of the World Bank delegation, also participated in the meeting.