Embassy of Sri Lanka Washington DC has been awarded the third place for excellence in tourism promotion at the Sri Lanka Tourism Award 2011.
Commending the considerable role played by Sri Lanka Missions overseas in the field of promoting Tourism, the Sri Lanka Tourism took steps to create a new category of tourism awards for Sri Lanka Missions in promoting Tourism for the year 2011, among its newly introduced 21 award categories.
Accordingly, the Sri Lankan Embassies in Russia, China and USA awarded the first, second and third places consecutively for excellence in tourism promotions at the awards ceremony held at Waters Edge, Battaramulla on August 30, 2012.
Representing the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation His Excellency Mr. Udayanga Weerathunga received the award from Hon. Laksman Yapa Abeywardana, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development. Representatives of Ministry of External Affairs; Director General (Asia/Pacific) Ms. Shobini Gunasekara and Director/West Division Mr. W.M. Dharmapala received the awards for Sri Lankan Missions in China and Washington respectively.
The recognizable efforts made by the Sri Lankan Embassies to promote Sri Lanka as tourist destination were the selection criteria for the awards.
Since tourism is a key sector of the economy of the island at present, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau highly expects to obtain the cooperation of all Sri Lankan Foreign Missions Abroad for tourism promotional activities in future.
The number of tourist arrivals in 2011 exceeded 800,000, which was beyond expected figures. The promotional campaigns executed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau were the real force behind attaining this goal. Signifying a promising and consistent industry, the first seven months of 2012 already witnessed arrival over 500,000 touris.
Caption
W.M. Dharmapala, the Director /West Division of the Ministry of External Affairs receiving the award the Embassy of Sri Lanka , Washington DC from Minister of Economic Development Hon. Laksman Yapa Abeywardana at the Sri Lanka Tourism Awards – 2011 on Aug 30 , 2012
