Sri Lanka’s hospitality staff see prospects in other sectors

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry’s workforce is now leaving hospitality jobs in search of higher paying work as the sector awaits approval for a long term moratorium on its loans from the Central Bank to cure its financial ills.

City Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar said that they have seen about 30 percent of the industry workforce especially trained staff leaving the sector.

He queried how a person in this sector can live on the wages of Rs.14, 500 and that the authorities need to ensure that the hotels be allowed to entertain at least a limited number of guests and lift the ban on functions and events.

“Those in a supervisory capacity are working as security guards,” he said.

Given the crisis, the industry met with the Central Bank this week to request a long term moratorium on their loans; a waiver on their interest on interest; and waiver on their interest on leased vehicles, he said.

During the meeting they had also requested for a grant or a credit line for survival and it seemed the authorities were positive but there was no decision made as this was only a formal discussion.

Jetwing Chairman Hiran Cooray noted that they too have experienced people leaving their organisation and joining other sectors or going overseas. It’s not easy to find new jobs either so those who do find a new opening will move there as people are losing faith in this industry, he said.

At the Central Bank meeting he said there seemed to be positivity on the extension of the moratorium and this is likely to be by another six months and some of the other stakeholders of the industry requested for a waiver on interests as well.

A number of associations from around the country that were industry stakeholders had participated at this meeting. State Minister Nivard Cabraal and Central Bank Governor W. D. Lakshman had been present at the meeting.

“We have submitted our proposals on rescheduling of the debt to Central Bank and Treasury so we are awaiting a response and hope they will also roll out the vaccination pro - gramme as well and open up the country,” said Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka President Sanath Ukwatte.