Posted 30 Jun 2009

The Sri Lankan government is planning to make previously cut-off northern areas into desirable destinations for tourists, holidaymakers and those taking a gap year in the country.

Following the quashing of the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lanka now plans to open a new resort in 2011, which includes hotels and a marina. It will span out across Kalpitiya, which consists of 14 islands and lies 100 miles north of Colombo.

"We are sure that tourism will play a key role in regenerating the economy of the country and will in particular benefit the people of the north and the east," explained the country’s deputy tourism minister Faiszer Musthapha.

He added that though it will be years before visitors can fully explore the areas of Sri Lanka devastated by the violence, work is in progress to re-house 200,000 displaced individuals, clear landmines and restore railway lines.

At the beginning of June, the BBC reported that around 2,000 people had been resettled in their villages after fleeing due to the conflict earlier this year.

Category: Asia