SLITHM to be elevated to degree-awarding tertiary education institute

 The Cabinet of Ministers this week granted approval to a proposal to elevate Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) to degree-awarding status, and to promote it as a tertiary level higher education institution in the tourism and hospitality sector.

SLITHM was initially established as a State Institute in 1964 to train and upskill potential employees in the hospitality and travel Industry, and it was re-established under the Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005, to conduct training courses from foundation level to management level.

With a view of elevating SLITHM to a tertiary level higher education institution, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga on Monday presented a proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers to move ahead with necessary legal provisions including amendments to the Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005. 

Although there are other tertiary level higher education institutions including universities which offer degree courses in tourism, the Government Information Department pointed out that such courses are limited to theory and don’t include adequate field level practical training. “Therefore, this institute has been identified as suitable for conducting degree courses in the field of tourism with adequate field training,” it noted.