🇱🇰 Tourism Chief: "Best assistance is the Tourists" - SL is Open Post-Cyclone 📈

• SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam strongly appealed for tourists, asserting tourism is the fastest path to national economic recovery, surpassing the need for post-cyclone donations. • The sector has rapidly rebounded, reinforcing its reputation as a safe and reliable destination following the recent natural disaster. • Tourist arrivals officially resumed from 1 December. A major sign of confidence: a TUI-operated cruise ship brought 2,800 passengers on the day of the summit. • Current Status: All major tourism sites, including wildlife parks, heritage sites, and cultural landmarks, are fully open. Core operations have been restored even in heavily impacted districts like Nuwara Eliya and Kandy. • Road accessibility is rapidly improving across the island. • Sri Lanka is ready for the ongoing peak season (until March). The Chairman stressed that visitors' presence "can make the most meaningful difference" to affected communities.