CLAUDE GUNASEKERAcOLOMBO : Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath has appointed Suranjith Wevita as the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). This high-stakes reshuffle splits the unified tourism command previously held by outgoing joint-chairman Buddhika Hewawasam, triggering intense debate within the industry. Hewawasam will continue to function as Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. This decision has taken place in order to restructure administrative powers said a spokesman at the Ministry of Tourism. The appointment effectively unravels the dual-chairmanship strategy implemented under the instruction of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Previously, Hewawasam controlled both the SLTDA and the SLTPB, commanding a massive Rs. 17.5 billion tourism promotion fund. Under Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005, industry finances are highly stratified:70% of the Tourism Development Fund goes directly to the SLTPB for global marketing.14% of the fund is allocated to the SLTDA for domestic infrastructure and regulation.
Wevita steps into the role directly from the grassroots service sector, currently serving as the Secretary of the All Island Tourism Service Providers Association and the Central Province Tourism Services Development Co-operative Society. He previously contributed to state policy as a member of the Presidential Task Force on Tourism Development. Beyond tourism, Wevita possesses a highly varied background across multiple sectors by spent nearly 20 years managing regional branches for Seylan Bank, Pan Asia Bank, Melsta Regal Finance, and Multi Finance. He holds professional qualifications as a licensed national and regional tourist guide lecturer. He is also recognized as the best dairy products entrepreneur in the Central Province (2013) and serves as an external lecturer at the Gannoruwa Institute of Continuing Education. Currently chairs the Prime Adventure Academy and Rizwana Agriculture and Business (Pvt) Ltd.
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector faces internal pressure as provincial service providers demand greater representation and a fairer distribution of resources, citing that national policies heavily favor Colombo-based corporate bodies. While state authorities argue that centralized marketing drives national visitor numbers, Chairman Wevita would possibly step in to advocate for a more balanced approach.
To address regional disparities, Wevita is expected to introduce fair-measure reforms to decentralize investments under the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), focusing on updated recovery frameworks and regional land release programs.
“True island-wide recovery is impossible if our rural operators, eco-lodges, and regional guides feel locked out of the system,” Chairman Wevita noted in a statement regarding the strategic shift. “Our national strategy must strike an absolute balance. While macro-level marketing creates the initial demand, we must actively decentralize our investments and resources to ensure that the economic benefits of tourism reach beyond Colombo and directly into local provincial communities.”
