Coming Together

Ministers of South Asian countries keen to promote tourism met in Colombo after Sri Lanka expressed interest to join the region grouping that was financed by the ADB.











Ministers of South Asian countries keen to promote tourism met in Colombo after Sri Lanka expressed interest to join the region grouping that was financed by the ADB. Sri Lanka was especially keen to promote inter regional tourism within the group that also includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan.

“This will promote inter and intra regional tourism particularly the promotion of wildlife, nature and Buddhism. Sri Lanka is joining the group to benefit from the group,” says Prathap Ramanujam, Secretary, Tourism Ministry.

Mr. Ramanujam led the Sri Lankan delegation to the regional tourism meeting that also focused on promoting eco tourism and tourism to Buddhist sites.

Like Sri Lanka the South Asian region has many eco and Buddhist tourism sites.

“The countries decided that to make it more implement able and to get some action on the ground quickly let us focus on two themes,” explains Snimer Sahni, South Asia Department, ADB.

“So Buddhism was selected because it is one thing