Joint Opposition Defends Tourism Promotion Authority’s Sponsorship of Asia-Pacific Broadcasters’ Summit

The Joint Opposition has defended the financial sponsorship provided by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Authority for the 63rd General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, arguing that the funding was intended to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination.

Speaking at a media briefing, Joint Opposition Co-Convenor Sanjaya Mahawatta said criticism of the sponsorship was being made by people who lacked an understanding of the tourism industry.

He rejected claims that public funds had been wasted, explaining that the Tourism Promotion Authority was responsible for investing in programmes designed to attract international visitors to Sri Lanka.

Mahawatta said the authority had previously allocated funds for various promotional activities and claimed that the amount spent on the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union gathering was lower than allocations made for some earlier projects.

He also stated that five dollars from each tourist visiting Sri Lanka had been used for the initiative.

According to Mahawatta, the event was important because it received extensive international broadcasting coverage, providing an opportunity to promote Sri Lanka to audiences across multiple countries.

He cited previous sponsorships by the Tourism Promotion Authority, including funding for children's car-racing events and a kite festival, arguing that such activities had also been supported as part of tourism promotion efforts.

He called on the Inspector General of Police to look into the matter and extended his congratulations to the organisers of the 63rd General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union.

Another Joint Opposition Co-Convenor, Niluksha Kumara, also criticised those opposing the sponsorship. He alleged that the criticism was politically motivated and pointed to previous tourism promotion activities, including racing events held around the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.

Kumara argued that attracting tourists and promoting Sri Lanka internationally were legitimate objectives of the tourism promotion fund.