The Government of Sri Lanka has unveiled plans to transform Delft Island into the country’s first Zero Emission eco‑tourism destination, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, environmental conservation, and the preservation of its unique natural and cultural heritage.

A special site inspection and stakeholder discussion on the proposed development was held under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe recently. 

The island, renowned for its Dutch‑era ruins, numerous archaeological landmarks, and iconic wild horses, is seen as possessing exceptional tourism potential.

Deputy Minister Ranasinghe told participants that Delft Island should be experienced not only by international visitors but also by domestic tourists. Despite its extraordinary attractions, he noted, the island has so far made only a limited contribution to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. 

He emphasized the Government’s commitment to unlocking Delft’s full potential through sustainable and environmentally responsible development. 

Discussions focused on identifying priority infrastructure to position Delft Island as a premier tourism destination, with key areas including water supply, road infrastructure, transportation and accessibility. Strengthening community participation was also highlighted, with plans to enhance the knowledge and hospitality skills of local residents to enable them to benefit directly from tourism development.

The Deputy Minister stressed that environmental sustainability will remain the cornerstone of the development strategy. The Government’s vision is to establish Delft Island as a flagship Zero Emission tourism destination, showcasing responsible tourism practices, promoting renewable and sustainable solutions, and serving as a model for eco‑friendly tourism development in Sri Lanka. 

The programme was attended by Jaffna District MP Ilankumaran Karunanathan, Dr. Sribavanadarajah Shanmuganathan, Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy, representatives of local political authorities, the Divisional Secretary of Delft, government officials, and members of the local community, who actively shared their views on the island’s future development.

Officials from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) also participated in the visit and discussions. 

The initiative marks an important step towards positioning Delft Island as one of Sri Lanka’s most distinctive sustainable tourism destinations, where environmental conservation, cultural heritage preservation, and community‑based tourism development work together to create a world‑class visitor experience. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe has invited the public and international visitors to experience the scenic beauty of Uva Paranagama through the Pekoe Trail stages 20 and 21, highlighting horseback travel and organic produce as unique attractions.

“I call visitors around the globe to visit Pekoe Trail stages 20 and 21 in Uva Paranagama. While you travel on horseback, you can also pick fresh, organic pears and taste them. It is an experience, a feeling. You can experience Ceylon tea and organic pears,” Ranasinghe said.

The Deputy Minister made the remarks during a promotional visit to the Lucky Land Estate in Uva Paranagama, where he rode on horseback as part of a tourism promotion activity.  

The event was held under the Ceylon Tea Villages program of 500 tea villages, with Uva Province’s main program taking place yesterday. Riding along the roads of the area, Ranasinghe emphasized the natural beauty and scenic value of the region, positioning it as a destination for sustainable tourism.

Badulla District MP Ravinda Bandara also joined the promotional activity, riding on horseback alongside the Deputy Minister. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe says a special QR code system will be introduced for the tourism sector to obtain fuel.

Speaking to the media today, Deputy Minister Ranasinghe said that a discussion was held today, and the authorities hope to introduce the special QR system by this evening.

“A similar system was introduced in the past. A discussion took place today. We hope to introduce the new system by this evening with the aim of ensuring that those in the tourism sector can carry out their work without any issues,” he said. 

Deputy Minister Ranasinghe said that all necessary plans in this regard have been completed.

He further stated that there was a 25-30% drop in tourist arrivals from the Middle East, due to the ongoing conflict in the region. 

“The Middle East is a transit point for tourists arriving from European countries. We see a drop in tourist arrivals from such transit flights. But tourists are arriving via direct flights. However, there is a notable 25-30% drop in tourists from the Middle East at present,” he added. (Newswire)

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Attempts are being made to sabotage the government through various fake news targeting the tourism industry of Sri Lanka, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ruwan Ranasinghe, said. 

Addressing the media, Deputy Minister Ranasinghe said that this was evident through two specific incidents that had been widely circulated on social media recently, involving the Weligama and Arugambay areas.

“The first instance was a video of a Philippine national being assaulted in Weligama. Investigations have found that this was an incident that occurred in 2024. Secondly, a notice has been issued requesting tourists to refrain from wearing bikinis in public places in the Arugambay area. This has also been found to be an attempt to cause racial tension in the area,” he said.

Deputy Minister Ranasinghe said that the notice on Arugambay has been issued at a time when the government was working with the Muslim Community to establish control at key local councils, including the Colombo Municipal Council. 

“We inquired in this regard from the Muslim Community in Arugambay. They reported one incident of a nude person walking in public, which they opposed. We also suspect that this is an incident with an ulterior motive by some people or group to cause issues in the area as the government is working to strengthen its power,” he said.

Deputy Minister Ranasinghe pointed out that the government considers these incidents as attempts by some to cause racial tensions and sabotage its efforts to develop the nation. 

He warned that stringent legal action would be taken against any person or group attempting to harm the economy by targeting the tourism industry. 

The Deputy Minister of Tourism further requested the public not to fall victim to such fake news. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ruwan Ranasinghe, has been honoured with a Professorship by Sichuan University in China, in recognition of his contributions to cultural heritage research and tourism development.

According to a Tourism Ministry statement, Ruwan Ranasinghe earned his PhD in Tourism Management from Sichuan University in 2017. Upon returning to Sri Lanka, he established the Department of Tourism Studies at Uva Wellassa University, later serving as its first Head and as Dean of the Faculty of Management. His academic leadership led to his recent appointment as Deputy Minister of Tourism.

• Strengthening Bilateral Academic Cooperation

During his visit to Sichuan University, Deputy Minister Prof. Ranasinghe engaged in discussions on Sri Lanka’s tourism transformation and collaborations with Chinese institutions, emphasising sustainable tourism and heritage conservation.

The symposium at the School of History and Culture explored Sri Lanka’s cultural tourism strategy. Dean Prof. Lv Hongliang welcomed the delegation, highlighting the nation’s potential in heritage conservation and tourism education. Prof. Ranasinghe outlined a roadmap for revitalising Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, integrating international expertise and digital advancements.

A significant initiative discussed was the integration of Sri Lanka’s National Tourism and Hospitality Research Institute into the China-Sri Lanka Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Cultural Heritage and Tourism, originally established during Prof. Ranasinghe’s doctoral studies.

• Industry Innovation & Academic Recognition

Leading scholars provided insights on AI-driven tourism marketing, interdisciplinary research, and student exchange programs. Prof. Ranasinghe addressed key tourism challenges, including rural tourism development, female travel safety, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Sichuan University’s leadership, including Li Zhengchi, Deputy Secretary of Party Committee, Liao Yu, Director of Party and University Affairs Office, Li Zhiqiang, Director of International Office, and Prof Lv Hongliang, Dean of the Faculty of History and Culture, officially welcomed Prof. Ranasinghe, reinforcing academic cooperation and talent development between Sri Lanka and China.

This Professorship recognizes Prof. Ranasinghe as the first international student from Sichuan University’s History and Culture Department (Tourism) to become Deputy Minister of Tourism. The honour acknowledges his contributions to Sri Lanka’s tourism, cultural heritage, and social sector development.

• Professorship Conferred: Honouring a Visionary Leader

Sichuan University’s School of History and Culture, School of Tourism, and School of Archaeology and Museology jointly conferred the Professorship on Prof. Ranasinghe, recognizing his leadership in international tourism research.

This accolade highlights growing China-Sri Lanka academic collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative, reinforcing Sichuan University’s role in global tourism and heritage studies. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe has warned the public of false information being circulated related to the measures taken by the authorities to contain the fire raging in the Ella Forest Reserve. 

Addressing an event in Badulla, the Deputy Minister said that fake news was being spread about the firefighting operations underway. 

Providing a clarification, Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe said previous attempts to contain the fire using helicopters had failed due to the strong winds experienced in the area.

He said, therefore, at a recent meeting with Defence officials, a decision was taken to launch the fire extinguishing operation. 

The Deputy Minister of Tourism requested to refrain from spreading fake news related to the fire extinguishing operation in the Ella Forest Reserve. (Newswire)

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