Lanka's spas to be regulated to draw overseas visitors

The Presidential Secretariat will coordinate with relevant government institutions to introduce a regulatory mechanism for spas around the country by the end of this year, a top state official said.

Presidential Secretariat Public Relations Director Thusith Halloluwa said President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed him to coordinate with the Ministries of Health and Local Government and the State Ministry of Ayurveda to finalise regulations by December. The secretariat will have meetings starting this week.

"Spas are mushrooming all over with just a business registration and no regulatory body. They carry on illegal activities, have staff without qualifications in spa therapy, and continue with provocative advertisements. Their activities are a health and hygiene concern. This has become a menace to qualified spa-therapy-offering places," he added.

He said about 600,000 are directly and indirectly employed in the spa industry.

There are plans to make it compulsory for spas to register with their respective local government bodies for a fee of Rs. 500,000. According to these plans, the Health Ministry will be involved in monitoring employee health and hygiene and checking equipment, ointments, and lotions for their quality and expiration dates. Training will also be provided for employees by the Ayurveda Department. Spas will have to register with the Sri Lanka Spa Association as well.

Mr. Halloluwa said the objective was to attract foreign tourists to local spas.

"High-end tourists visit hotel spas and Ayurveda wellness centres. But the spas in the country should be able to cater to tourists who are on limited budgets," he said.

Sri Lanka Spa Association President Prasanna Munasinghe said that following the discussion at the Presidential Secretariat, the Inspector General of Police assured a three-month relief period, free of raids, until the regulatory mechanism is established.

"Since 2019, the Ayurveda Department has suspended registration of spas. There are no new Ayurveda spas in the country. With unscrupulous activities taking place, there were more police raids. The spa industry is currently tarnished, with spas being called brothels and drug hotspots," he said.

Mr. Munasinghe said the association had received information about narcotic use among female employees at these unprofessional spas.

"Indigenous Medicine State Minister Sisira Jayakody has assured NVQ level 2 training for all spa employees. The training will be a must in the future. All registered spas will have to carry a plain billboard. Advertisements bearing indecent or misleading photographs and messages will be prohibited for registered spas," he said.