With Jaffna being selected as one of the world’s top 25 destinations for tourism in 2026, the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, stated that our tourism-related services must be provided in a manner that fulfills the expectations of the tourists arriving here and ensures they return home satisfied.
The monthly discussion with the officials of the Northern Province Tourism Bureau was held on Wednesday evening – 12 November 2025, at the Governor’s Secretariat.
During this discussion, plans to further develop the tourism sector in the Northern Province were extensively explored. The Governor instructed the immediate preparation of the Northern Province Tourism Calendar for 2026, incorporating events, festivals, cultural programs, and seasonal activities.
Similarly, the Governor emphasized selecting a specific period each month in 2026 and, in collaboration with District Secretariats and Local Authorities across the five districts of the Northern Province, pre-planning and organizing tourist-attracting events such as food festivals, fruit festivals, and bullock cart rides on a foundational basis, and including them in the 2026 Tourism Calendar.
Beautification of Jaffna city was also discussed in detail during the meeting. The Governor instructed local authorities to take strict action against those who litter streets with garbage and waste, and to monitor the quality of accommodations where tourists stay.
Furthermore, as a first step, he ordered actions to register unregistered accommodations within the Jaffna municipal area during the first week of December, and to take legal action against those who fail to register.
Importantly, the Governor stressed the necessity for the Provincial Tourism Bureau to work in coordination with every District Secretariat in the Northern Province, as well as the need for integrated operations among various departments related to tourism activities. Accordingly, he noted that steps would be taken soon to hold a discussion involving all stakeholders.
Participants in the discussion included the Secretary to the Governor, the Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government – Northern Province, the Commissioner of Local Government – Northern Province, the Chairman of the Northern Province Tourism Bureau, the Director of the Tourism Bureau, members of the Management Board, and the Coordinator of the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee Chairman, among others.
