Anura promises to do utmost to rebuild tourism sector

 
Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike has promised to do his utmost with government support to re-build the tourism sector.
The Minister, who visited the tsunami affected areas in the Southern Province, had a special discussion with hotel trade representatives at the Southern Province Governor's official residence.
Hoteliers in the South affected by the disaster also sought the Minister's intervention to recover their insurance claims.
Members of the Hoteliers Association in the Galle District, tourism sector authorities along with other important industries are seeking the Minister's following assistance some insurance firms withholding such claims.
During the discussion with the Bandaranaike, several members of the Southern Province hoteliers association in the Galle district and officials attached to the tourism sector told the Minister that many insurance companies had refused to pay their damage claims following the tsunami devastation.

“Our claims have been rejected by several insurance companies giving us various excuses. We urge the government to intervene into this matter and find for us a solution," they said.
Meanwhile, they have also requested the government to permit duty concessions in the import of goods needed by the travel industry and also to introduce a soft loan scheme to help those affected by the tragedy.
The Minister has observed that he would take a policy decision on the hotels that will be re-built at the same site prior to their destruction by the tidal waves.