Tourism Minister hails Ceylon Hotel School Graduate Association for contributions to industry

Incoming President lighting the oil lamp. From left: Priyal Perera (Vice President), Samantha Gunaratne (Vice President), Sunil Dissanayake (Outgoing President), Minister John Amaratunga (Chief Guest), Paddy Vithana (Guest of Honour), Sanjeeva Perera (Incoming President) 

The Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga was the Chief Guest of the 45thAnnual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ceylon Hotel School Graduate Association (CHSGA) whose members are the alumni of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (SLITHM).
The AGM was held on 24thSeptember at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort and Spa. Paddy Vithana, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) who is also a member and Past President of the CHSGA, was the Guest of Honour at this event.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister acknowledged that he was proud to be associated with the CHSGA which was formed in 1971 serving the Hospitality and Tourism Industry in a big way over the past 45 years.
The Minister went on to say that The Ceylon Hotel School which is now known as the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism Management (SLITHM) is the most recognized institute for Hospitality Management in the country and that they have continuously delivered professionals of very high standards for the development of the industry in Sri Lanka. 
He praised the CHSGA for their support extended in different ways for the development of the SLITHM while offering scholarships for the students to progress in their careers, and also for initiating and continuing several CSR programmes for the benefit of the country. 
The Minister was extremely appreciative of the CHSGA and assured that as the Minister he would give his fullest support to CHSGA and all other tourism related associations working jointly for the betterment of the country’s tourism industry.
The Minister also stated that “As the Tourism Minister, my vision is to further upgrade the facilities and infrastructure of the hospitality industry in Sri Lanka and look forward to reaching the mark of 3.5 million tourists by the year 2020. Also, we need to make the tourism Industry of Sri Lanka the number one foreign exchange earner in the country”.