SL Tourism chief steps down; fires strong-worded letter to Minister Harin

• Says new Minister Harin Fernando requested her resignation 
• Slams Minister for his “cavalier” attitude and calls him “unprofessional” for not meeting with her to review progress 

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam
Sri Lanka Tourism yesterday saw its chief Kimarli Fernando stepping down after newly appointed Tourism Minister Harin Fernando requested her resignation.

Kimarli Fernando, who served Sri Lanka Tourism as the Chairperson fired a two-page resignation letter to the Minister, highlighting the progress made during her 30-month stint as the chief of the four institutions under the Sri Lanka Tourism banner. “With a request from the incumbent Minister for my resignation, I wish well for all stakeholders and related parties for a better tomorrow for Sri Lanka Tourism,” posted Fernando on her Facebook account, while also sharing the contents of the resignation letter sent to the Tourism Ministry.

Fernando’s resignation was openly called out by tourism sector stakeholders for months as they found the authority continuing to be uncooperative in helping the industry to brave through the repeatedly emerging challenges. 

However, the highlight of Fernando’s letter was calling out the new Minister for not meeting up with her since he assumed duties last Friday, 20 May.

“It is regrettable and unprofessional that we never met to review progress, to guide you on the best practices adopted…Especially at this critical time for the nation, when tourism would provide the fastest hard currency benefits, the cavalier attitude you have displayed does not bode well. I hope I am proved wrong,” she said in her strong-worded resignation letter. 

While pointing out her achievements, Fernando highlighted the challenges she faced in boosting Sri Lanka Tourism with a section of the private sector holders who acted like a cartel.

“A handful of ‘veterans’ act like a ‘cartel’, objecting to SME benefits such as the proposed minimum wage, a fair transportation cost for tourism drivers and obstructing the long-overdue shift to digital marketing, which they do not understand, promoting only the age-old pre-internet trade show model. 

I pray that such archaic practices will not continue to relegate this country to underperform vis-a-vis its competitors,” said Fernando.

Fernando concluded by stating that she looks forward to witnessing the continuation of rebuilding the industry as a safe space where nearly 3 million Sri Lankans will thrive and grow.