Public-Private Partnership to Boost Northern Province Tourism: Special Meeting with Tourism Stakeholders in Jaffna

A special discussion with tourism stakeholders of the Jaffna District, organized by the Northern Province Tourism Bureau, was held on Wednesday morning (11.03.2026) at the Valampuri Hotel, Jaffna.

The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, participated as the Chief Guest and addressed the gathering at this meeting, which was chaired by Dr. J. Vivekanandan, Chairman of the Northern Province Tourism Bureau. During his address, the Governor emphasized that the contribution of the private sector is highly essential for the development of tourism in the Northern Province, and assured that the government will provide all necessary facilities to the private sector to uplift this industry.

Various key aspects required to take the province's tourism sector to the next level were discussed in detail during this meeting:

Future Plans and Government Support:
It was pointed out that a favorable environment currently exists in the tourism sector. Comprehensive discussions regarding the tourism development plans for 2027 and 2028 will be held jointly with the Deputy Minister of Tourism, who is scheduled to visit the North on the 23rd of this month. The necessity of coordination between government departments and the private sector for the successful implementation of these plans was strongly emphasized.

Transportation and Infrastructure Development:
Attention was drawn to transportation issues, which remain a major challenge for tourists. Specifically, the recent statement by the Minister of Civil Aviation regarding the future establishment of a dedicated domestic terminal at the Katunayake International Airport, aimed at reducing the lengthy overland travel time between Colombo and Jaffna, was warmly welcomed by the gathering. Furthermore, infrastructure development projects, including the expansion of the Palaly International Airport runway and the imminent reconstruction of the Kankesanthurai Port with financial assistance from the Government of India, were also discussed.

New Projects and Problem Resolution:
The private sector was requested to identify and propose new tourism development projects tailored to each region. The Governor assured that practical difficulties faced in obtaining approvals from government agencies, including the Coast Conservation Department, during the implementation of these projects will be resolved promptly.

Ramayana Trail:
Considering the high influx of Indian tourists visiting Jaffna, it was briefed that initiatives related to the 'Ramayana Trail' are being actively promoted to attract them further.

Reiterating that the absolute cooperation of both the state and private sectors is vital for the growth of the tourism industry, the meeting was attended by several dignitaries including the Additional District Secretary of Jaffna, Mr. K. Sivaharan; the Commercial and Consular Executive Officer of the Consulate General of India in Jaffna,  Ramya Chandrasekharan;  Hon. Chairmen of Local Authorities; relevant Heads of Departments; as well as hotel owners and administrators.