Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has requested the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to extend the electricity bill concession granted to hotels and tourist accommodations registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) for another six months.
In June, the Cabinet approved a one-year grace period for the payment of accumulated water and electricity bills for a period of six months without any disconnection for tourist hotels and accommodations registered with the SLTDA. The CEB was instructed to allow the payment of electricity bills for the six-month period from 1 March to 31 August, settled in 12 instalments with effect from 1 September.
The fresh request was to further extend the electricity bill concession granted to hotels and tourist accommodations registered with the SLTDA, as the industry is severely impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the more serious second wave.
“Tourism is one of the most affected industries. The extending concessions is to tide over difficulties that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi has submitted this request in writing to the CEB last week and we are eagerly awaiting a favourable response,” Ranatunga told the Daily FT.
He further said that the relief package was prepared following the requests made during a recent discussion held with various stakeholders in the tourism sector.
SLTDA data depicted the dismal “0” for tourist arrivals for seven months from April to October — a direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The historic development is in view of Sri Lankan borders closed for tourists, a move applied by most countries in line with measures to stem the spread of the COVID-19. The Government terminated the arrival of all passenger flights and ships into Sri Lanka from 18 March.
(FT)