The President of the Tourist and Hotel Owners’ Association at Anuradhapura Harshana Gunasekera, says that the banks have already acquired five tourist hotels in Anuradhapura due to non-payment of bank loans.
He spoke at a media briefing held at the Wasala Tourist Hotel in Anuradhapura regarding the problems of those engaged in the tourism business centred in Anuradhapura.
Speaking further, Mr Gunasekera said, “Tourist hotel owners in Anuradhapura are facing many problems. Hotels cannot be maintained. Bank loans obtained cannot be repaid. The banks have already acquired five hotels. Also, many trained employees are leaving their jobs and are going to work in hotels in countries such as the Maldives. There is no relief for the tourism industry. The Municipal Council has to be paid Rs. 50,000 only for displaying the name board of the hotel. The Road Development Authority has to be paid Rs. 50,000. If not, cases will be filed. It is the situation in Anuradhapura today. We think this is the situation in the whole of Sri Lanka,” he said.
