• Watching the sunrise in Sigiriya earns more than three thousand dollars a day – Central Cultural Fund informs the Committee.
• 8 million dollars from KOICA to develop Sigiriya.
Over three thousand US Dollars are being earned by providing the opportunity for foreigners to see the sunrise in Sigiriya, the Director General of the Central Cultural Fund said.
Prof. Gamini Ranasinghe said that the sectors that can further attract tourists around Sigiriya are being identified.
He further said that the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has agreed to provide aid of US$ 8 million to make these activities more successful.
Prof. Ranasinghe made the remarks while addressing the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Religious Affairs and Co-Existence chaired by MP Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha in Parliament.
During the meeting, the recommendations of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Religious Affairs and Co-Existence were received to amend the Central Cultural Fund Act by imposing regulations on how the money should be used specifically so that the money available in the Central Cultural Fund cannot be used for illegal activities.
Addressing the meeting, Prof. Gamini Ranasinghe, further said that the dollar generation of the Central Cultural Fund, which was burdened with debt two years ago, has increased by 614%.
It was also disclosed that some three-wheeler drivers who provide transport facilities to tourists informally in tourist areas charge exorbitant prices. Accordingly, the officials emphasized to the Oversight Committee that the installation of meters should be made mandatory for the three-wheelers in those areas.
The officials further requested the committee to recruit employees for the vacant positions of the Central Cultural Fund and take measures to make permanent the 286 unconfirmed employees who are currently on duty. Accordingly, the committee agreed to intervene within the existing legal framework.
Furthermore, officials of the Public Trustee Department also appeared before the Committee. The Chair inquired from the officials about the measures taken to increase the revenue generation of the department. Accordingly, the officials stated that they are currently working to generate income by using the land and property they have effectively. Furthermore, the officials informed the Committee that the basic measures of digitalization of the department have been initiated to make the activities of the department more efficient.
Members of Parliament Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero, and M. Rameshwaran, with permission of the committee chair Isuru Dodangoda and Kumarasiri Rathnayaka, participated. Government officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs Somaratne Vidhanapathirana, also participated in the meeting. (NewsWire)