Although the tourism sector in the Northern Province is gradually developing, there is a noticeable shortage of adequately trained human resources in the field. However, it is encouraging to note that the present younger generation shows strong interest in tourism-related career opportunities. Therefore, when the tourism sector expands further in the future, an environment will be created in which the required workforce can be supplied from within the province itself, expressed the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan with confidence.
The Northern Province Tourism Awards – 2025 and the book launch ceremony on the spiritual tourism trails of “Ramayana” and “Murugan”, organized by the Tourism Bureau – Northern Province, was held yesterday – on Tuesday 30 December 2025 evening, at J Hotel, Jaffna. The Governor made these remarks while delivering the keynote address as the chief guest at the event.
Continuing his speech, the Governor elaborated on the growth of tourism in the North and future plans:
“We are delighted to publish two important books — the Murugan Spiritual Tourism Trail and the Ramayana Spiritual Tourism Trail — which beautifully showcase the hidden treasures of our province, ancient heritage sites, tranquil beaches, and vibrant living traditions. These publications will serve as invaluable guides, inspiring visitors to deeply explore and experience the true essence of the Northern Province.
Due to the strong historical and spiritual connections between our regions, these initiatives will certainly increase the number of pilgrims and tourists visiting from India and other international destinations. Most importantly, tourism plays an indispensable role in the overall production of our province. It not only creates sustainable employment but also stimulates the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises that form the backbone of our economy.
Although the number of tourists visiting the North has increased, there is still a need to further enhance this flow. Under the leadership of His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the government has commenced development work on the Jaffna International Airport. Likewise, the Kankesanthurai Port will be further developed to accommodate passenger transport. Once these projects are completed, there will be a significant increase in tourist arrivals to the Northern Province.
At present, the land travel distance and time from Colombo to Jaffna pose difficulties for tourists. I believe these challenges can be reduced by initiating domestic flight services from the Bandaranaike International Airport to the Jaffna International Airport. The government holds a positive outlook on this matter.
At the same time, during certain periods, it becomes difficult to obtain rooms in hotels and accommodation facilities in the Northern Province, as they are fully booked. Therefore, as tourist numbers increase in the future, investors should develop new hotels and accommodation facilities to meet this demand. Our people should make proper use of the growing opportunities emerging in the tourism sector here.”
At the event, tourism guidebooks were officially released, and awards and honors were presented to individuals who made outstanding contributions to the development of the tourism sector.
The event was attended by the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Jaffna, Sai Murali, as guest of honor; Northern Province Chief Secretary Thanuja Murugesan; District Secretaries; Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, S. L. Nazeer; Director of Tourism Planning, Development and Research at the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Prasad Jayasuriya; Chairman of the Northern Province Tourism Bureau A. Pathinathan; along with directors, officials, and several others.
