Thilak Weerasinghe elected new SLAITO President
Lanka Sportreizen Ltd. Chairman Thilak Weerasinghe was elected as the new President of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) at its 40th Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday, 29 September at the Ramada Colombo.
The Chief Guest of the ceremony was Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Guest of Honour was Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga whilst the Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa, State Minister of Aviation D.V. Chanaka and State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal participated as Special Guests. Apart from Weerasinghe’s election as President for the year 2020/2021 period, Wayfarers Ltd.
CEO Nishad Wijetunga, and Abercrombie and Kent Managing Director Gayangi Wirasinha were elected as Vice Presidents, Aitken Spence Travels Ltd. Managing Director Nalin Jayasundera was elected as the Secretary and Columbus Tours Ltd. Managing Director Bobby Jorden Hansen was elected as the Treasurer. Following persons were elected to the Executive Committee of SLAITO for the period of 2020/2021: Connaissance de Ceylan Chairman Chandra Wickremasinghe, NKAR Travels and Tours Ltd. Managing Director Nilmin Nanayakkara, Golden Isle Travels Ltd. Managing Director Joyce Padmini Paul, Hawk Travels Ltd. Managing Director
Rohan Abeywickrema, House of Travels and Tourism Ltd. Managing Director Nalin A. Malwenna, Journeyscapes Ltd. Managing Director Devindre Senaratne, Tangerine Tours Ltd. General Manager Charith De Alwis, Walkers Tours Ltd. Destination Management CEO Nalaka Amaratunga, Ceylon Tours Ltd. Managing Director Surendra Ediriweera,
Jetwing Travels Ltd. Deputy General Manager Bandula Withana, and Andrew the Travel Company Ltd. Managing Director Mahen Kariyawasam as the Immediate Past President.
SLAITO was formally known as Association of Group Tour Agents (AGTA) and was established in 1975. In 2002, AGTA was reconstituted as SLAITO. SLAITO is recognised as the APEX body for inbound tourism and the membership handles 90% of all inbound tourists in the organised tourism sector. At present, the SLAITO has a membership of 250. SLAITO plays an integral role in all important private sector decisionmaking forums and is affiliated to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.