In a strategic move aimed at bolstering the tourism sector, President Ranil Wickremesinghe defended the decision to allocate the Nuwara Eliya Post Office to the tourism industry during the Budget 2024 reading.
Emphasizing that this decision is integral to the broader Nuwara Eliya development plan, President Wickremesinghe addressed concerns raised by diverse stakeholders, including foreign tourists, regarding the proposal to hand over the 130-year-old Nuwara Eliya Post Office building and the Kandy Post Office to the private sector for transformation into hotels.
President Wickremesinghe highlighted the significance of utilizing historic buildings for foreign exchange earning purposes, underlining the potential economic benefits of repurposing these structures. During the reading of the proposals, he cautioned that without timely action, involving the renovation and restoration of these buildings, they risked deterioration, drawing a parallel with the fate of the Galle Post Office.
The President’s justification comes in the wake of a major public outcry, with stakeholders expressing concerns about the transformation of iconic landmarks into commercial establishments. However, Wickremesinghe’s assertion positions the move as a proactive step towards preserving historic sites and leveraging them for sustainable economic development.
