V
anavasi Rahula Thera, the founder of National Namal Uyana, has called for the taxation and privatization of tourist sites, including Sigiriya.
Speaking at a press conference at National Namal Uyana yesterday, Rahula Thera recommended the immediate privatization of popular tourist destinations such as Sigiriya, excluding sacred sites frequented by both local and foreign tourists.
Rahula Thera pointed out the inadequate basic amenities for foreign visitors at Sigiriya and similar sites nationwide. “Tourists face high ticket prices but lack essential facilities like proper lavatories and parking spaces. They are being taken advantage of at these locations,” he asserted.
He stressed that foreign tourists visit not just for leisure in hotels but to explore the country’s ecological, historical, and geological attractions. “The Tourism Ministry and Tourism Board have a responsibility to attract such visitors,” he stated.
Rahula Thera emphasized the importance of not exploiting foreign tourists, advocating instead for the provision of proper facilities to ensure their satisfaction and increase tourist numbers. “This necessitates better management, a system that is currently deficient in our country and needs reform,” he concluded.
