Wedding bells for Chinese couples: Who will foot the bill
Ahundred Chinese couples tied the nuptial knot this month in Colombo watched by their relatives and a distinguished audience.
Later, there was a banquet for 600 guests at a leading restaurant in Battaramulla.
The Chinese couples have gone back home after a brief honeymoon in paradise isle to live ‘ happily ever after’ and their relatives caught a glimpse of Sri Lanka during a near weeklong visit.
The drama behind the wedding, however, has begun to unfold only now. The mega event was arranged by a private company owned by the brother of an influential advisor to the Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs. That company dubbed the event “The Royal Wedding Ceremony of Sri Lanka” ( RWC S 2017) though ‘ Communist’ China is in no way associated with royalty. The 100 grooms and brides who came for the wedding on December 17 were all ‘ commoners’.
As the private company said it; the venue “Colombo Town Hall grounds” was “majestically decorated with pavilions and never before witnessed fanfare to celebrate the unique event including over 500 Chinese guests.” Needless to say that the Tourism Ministry’s backing took the project off the ground in a big way. Perhaps, it recognised the tourism development potential in the exercise besides the influence brought to bear.
However, things began to go wrong after the private company in question urged Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara to sponsor expenses related to the wedding and the grand reception that followed. As a witty official said “that would have made the state not only the kapuwa ( broker) but also the magul gedera ( wedding house) operators.
Mr Nanayakkara responded to that letter from the private firm by saying, “At a recent press conference held in Colombo, Hon. Minister of Tourism was questioned by one of the media personnel whether any financial commitment will be made by the Ministry or by any organisation under the Ministry towards this event. ( Note: This came after the event was first reported in these columns)
“At that point, Hon. Minister informed the media that there is no financial commitment either from the Ministry or from any Organisation under the Ministry for this event. Therefore we wish to inform you that we are unable to forward your request to the Board of Management of the Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau seeking approval to sponsor the wedding reception.”
The matter did not end there. Tourism Minister John Ameratunga gave a written dire c t ive to Chairman Nanayakkara. He said that “we are fortunate” that the private company in question “is organizing an event of this magnitude which is a ‘ shot in the arm’ for Sri Lanka tourism and a valuable contribution towards the ‘ numbers’ ( sic) as 100 Chinese nationals are expected to get married and 350 more Chinese friends and relat ives will come to Sri Lanka…..”
Th e r e f o r e, M i n i s t e r Ameratunga said “While appreciating the efforts taken by this company, which is mutually beneficial to all concerned, I hereby recommend a contribution of 3 million (rupees) from SLTPB towards this unique event.”
Quite c l e a r l y, M r Ameratunga has contradicted his own remarks, made at a news conference, in his bid to reward his advisor’s brother’s firm in question. Thus, the Minister’s public position and the private views to draw state funds differ. Bluntly put, he was conning to the public through the media.
Chairman Nanayakkara has made clear that such a payment, as the Tourism Minister ordered, cannot be made without the approval of the Board of Management or the approval of the Treasury. There it stands now.