State tourism institutions headless!
State tourism bodies have been operating for the past one- and- a- half months without proper board appointments.
Appointments to the boards of the tourism bodies are yet to happen as the Tourism Ministry Secretary has not seen what his Minister has sent and instead has urgently authorised reappointment of the Chairperson and two other ex-officio members to the boards.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the Business Times on Friday that he had already sent the nominations of the representatives from the associations that were forwarded to him to Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi by February 1.
Dismissing that he had requested approval for reappointment of the Chairperson Kimarli Fernando to office by the Attorney General, the minister noted “I have not asked anything like that.” On the other hand he noted that this is solely up to the secretary to inquire if necessary.
He noted that the Chairperson continued to function and that the Secretary was handling the operations in the running of the affairs of the relevant institutions.
Asked about the global promotion campaign the minister said the chairperson was to be consulted in this matter and that some of the international travel marts will continue to take place this year except for ITB, Berlin, which organisers have called off.
Meanwhile he noted that the Draft Act had been handed over to the stakeholders for their responses and that the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority ( SLTDA) has hired a retired legal draftsman formerly of the AG’s Department.
The minister said that since there are insufficient officials at the AG’s Department they have resorted to this measure to obtain the services of a retired legal draftsman.
Commenting on the court case concerning the Chairperson and two other officials, the minister said that action can be instituted only after the court makes its decision and was oblivious to the rules outlined in the Establishments Code.
Tourism Ministry Secretary Hettiarachchi when contacted said that he had up to Thursday not received any nominations from Minister Ranatunga on the reappointments to the tourism boards.
On the other hand, he said, “I gave approval to sign to the Chairperson, Director General and the representative from the Treasury – I gave authority to them to attend to an urgent matter.”
Meanwhile in the Contempt of Court case which has been instituted against the SLT chairperson and others, they have been asked to be personally present in court on March 16.
Contrary to what Minister Ranatunga said, Mr. Hettiarachchi said, “We have sent our nominations to the minister and probably he might appoint immediately but it will take a little bit of time.”
He explained that since the board is not functioning “what they have done is they have sent it to me during this interim period – normally I give approval for urgent matters.”
The secretary also said that at next Monday’s meeting with the Finance Minister, Tourism Minister and the industry stakeholders then the industry might raise that question.
Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators President Tilak Weerasinghe told the Business Times that the decision-making is little difficult without boards being appointed but they expect it will happen anytime soon.
Industry participation is needed at the board level and under the circumstances since there are no boards, he said the minister invited all for meetings to discuss urgent matters and even the Chairperson was present at some of these meetings.