Govt. has to provide relief measures to tourism industry: Anuradhapura Hoteliers
The tourists hotel operators in Anuradhapura said that 21 leading tourist hotels in Anuradhapura district are on the verge of closing down and their assets are at a risk of being foreclosed by the banks.
The tourists industry was paralyzed due to Easter Sunday attack. The government took steps to introduce a relief package as a solution to that problem. But, the hotel operators said that they were not able to get the facility due to shortcomings in the system.
They said that although only the state banks discussed about this package, the private banks did not focus their attention on it. According to them, the financial institutions have not been communicated the decisions of the Central bank and the tourist hoteliers have been facing difficulties. Against such a background, we are in a difficult situation without a solution to their problems, they said.
They added that they were compelled to pawn the gold jewellery items of their wives and the children as there was no solution to pay bank loan installments in arrears and requested from the government to introduce the relief package immediately. they said it is of no avail if their properties would foreclose to the bank.
The executive secretary of the Anuradhapura Tourist Hotel Owners Association Damien Perera responding to this situation yesterday said “When the businessmen went to these institutions to obtain relief they were turned back giving various excuses. According to the quarries made by the financial institutions and banks, it seems that there is misunderstanding between these two institutions regarding the circulars issued by the government. In this regard, we as an association act as a mediator with the Minister of Tourism, Minister of Finance and the secretary of the Ministry for seeking a solution to this problem.the minister of tourism has given a good response to us. However, justice is not meted out to the hoteliers so far.“He said that they have decided to come to a clear understanding to discuss the problems at a forum regarding the implementation of the relief package. However, according to him, their problem was whether the banks would grant a grace period until they come to a settlement.
He said in the last year their business concerns were greatly affected due to climatic changes, change of the government, Sinhalamuslim crisis and Easter Sunday attack took place when they were discussing about those problems with the minister concerned. It has worsened the situation further, according to him.