Page 1 of 5
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 103
March 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 321
Development through Tourism: A Study
in Sri Lanka
Dr. Shankar Chatterjee
Former Prof &Head (CPME) NIRD &PR, Hyderabad-500 030, Telangana, India
E-mail: shankarjagu@gmail.com
Abstract
Tourism is an important sector that has great impact on development of any country’s
economy. The main benefits of tourism are employment generation without creating any type of
problem in environment and in turn tourism helps to develop primary, secondary and tertiary
sectors. Sri Lanka is a peaceful country and lot of places of different types may be visited for
tourism purpose. The statistics reveal when the government decided to develop the tourism
sector as a separate sector of Sri Lanka's economy by establishing the Ceylon Tourist Bureau in
1966, altogether 18,969 foreign tourists visited Sri Lanka. In 2009 the number went up to
448,000 and in 2015 the number of tourists visited was 1,798,380 indicating over 300 per cent
growth in six years. Only, during the civil war that was ended in 2009, after 25 years of conflict
tourism sector suffered. With the visit of Sri Lanka in March 2018, I could get more insight about
the Island and its people and culture. For me Kandy looks like any small hill station of India.
Again Bentota and its vicinity look like Goa. The road from Colombo to Kandy (around 120
Kilometres) albeit not very wide (may be two lanes of India) but neat and clean, no plastic bottle
or bag may be found anywhere in the road side. Similar is the case of Colombo to Bentota road.
The Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage is Sri Lanka's most popular tourist attraction. The
orphanage's population has now mushroomed to around 93, making it the world’s largest
collection of captive elephants. Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project is worthy place to be
seen.
Keywords: Bentota, Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage, Tourism, Turtle and Sri Lanka.
Introduction: About Sri Lanka
With the visit of Sri Lanka in first part of
March 2018, I could get more insight about
the Island and its people and culture. Each
and every place is important from tourism
point of view. Sri Lanka is the 58th most
populated nation in the world with an area of
65,000 square kilometres home of little more
than 2 crore people. It has to be appreciated
that country’s socio-economic progress is
better than many countries. In this regard by
referring, Rural Development Statistics,
2016-17 prepared by the Centre for Wage
Employment, National Institute of Rural
Development and Panchayati Raj popularly
known as (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad, India few
data on Sri Lanka are presented. Before the
presentation, few lines about NIRD&PR are
highlighted. The National Institute of Rural
Development and Panchayati Raj
(NIRD&PR), an autonomous organisation
under the Union Ministry of Rural
Development, is a premier national centre of
excellence in rural development and
Panchayati Raj. Recognized internationally
as one of the UN-ESCAP Centres of
Excellence, it builds capacities of rural
development functionaries, elected
representatives of PRIs, bankers, NGOs and
other stakeholders through inter-related
activities of training, research and
Page 2 of 5
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 103
March 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 322
consultancy. The Institute is located in
Hyderabad, Telangana state.
Annual population growth rate of Sri
Lanka during 2010-15 was 0.8 per cent with
crude birth rate 17.6 per 1,000 people and
death rate 6.2 per 1,000. Infant mortality per
1000 live births was 8.2 in 2013 while
mortality rate under five years of age was 9.6.
Average life expectancy at birth (2015 data)
in general was 75 years- male 71.7 years and
female 78.4 years. Literacy is important for
the development of people and effective
literacy skills open the doors to more
educational and employment opportunities so
that people are able to pull themselves out of
poverty and chronic underemployment. The
statistics show adult literacy rate (15 years
and above) in the country during 2005-13 was
91.2 per cent. Whereas youth literacy rates
(15-24 years) for male and female during the
same period were 97.7 and 98.6 years
respectively. While I was in the country
talked to cross section of youths and observed
youths were more interested in study
discouraging child marriage. The married
persons prefer two children. As per
wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka, population
density is highest in western Sri Lanka,
especially in and around the capital. Sinhalese
constitute the largest ethnic group in the
country, with 74.8 per cent of the total
population. Sri Lankan Tamils are the second
major ethnic group in the island, with a
percentage of 11.2 per cent. Sri Lankan
Moors comprise 9.2 per cent. Tamils of
Indian origin were brought into the country as
indentured labourers by the British colonists
to work on estate plantations. Nearly 50 per
cent of them were repatriated following
independence in 1948. They are distinguished
from the native Tamil population that has
resided in Sri Lanka since ancient times.
There are also small ethnic groups such as the
Burghers (of mixed European descent) and
Malays from Southeast Asia. Further, there is
a small population of Vedda people who are
believed to be the original indigenous group
to inhabit the island.
During the course of discussion, I observed
that people of Sri Lanka like Indians. Hindi
films were popular in the country as well as
many Indian cricketers’ are popular in Sri
Lanka. Many could speak little Hindi words
which in their words “thora thora jaanta hu’,
(meaning little Hindi we know). The country
has adopted 3-lanuage formula so all boards,
Government banners, hoarding etc. are
written in Singhalese, Tamil and English.
With my (being Bengali) some knowledge of
Tamil, I was greatly benefitted when I
conversed in Tamil.
Tourists’ places in Sri Lanka: My
Observations
Sri Lanka is a peaceful country and lot of
places of different types may be visited for
tourism purpose. When I visited the country
that time because of ethnic clash emergency
was declared but except that news (that too
through newspaper) I could not realise
anything in any places. The statistics reveal
when the government decided to develop the
tourism sector as a separate sector of Sri
Lanka's economy by establishing the Ceylon
Tourist Bureau in 1966, altogether 18,969
foreign tourists visited Sri Lanka. In 2009 the
number of tourists visited the country was
448,000 and in 2015 the same went up to
1,798,380, indicating over 300 per cent
growth in six years.
The Chinese traveller Fa-Hien visited Sri
Lanka as early as the 4th century, and in
twelfth century, Italian explorer Marco Polo
claimed Sri Lanka to be the "best island of its
size in the world".
(.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Sri_Lanka)
As mentioned already, the author had the
opportunity to visit Sri Lanka in first part of
March 2018 and talked to cross section of
people in different places. I observed that
they had positive feelings towards Indians,
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Page 3 of 5
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 103
March 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 323
meaning they like Indians, love Indians and
respect Indians as India is technologically
developed and friendly towards Sri Lanka.
The Government of India never disturbed
peace in the country as revealed by many. By
staying about a week in Sri Lanka, I never felt
that I was in a foreign country as people were
friendly. For me Kandy looks like any small
hill station of India. Again Bentota and its
vicinity look like Goa. The road from
Colombo to Kandy (around 120 Kilometres)
albeit not very wide (may be two lanes of
India) but neat and clean, no plastic bottle or
bag may be found anywhere in the road side.
Same was the case while going from
Colombo to Bentota, everywhere full of green
with varieties of tress mainly, palm, rubber
and other types. It heartening to note that all
places peace prevailed. In few places armed
forces with arms were found because
emergency was declared that time. The hill
station Kandy is famous for ‘Temple of the
Tooth’ a holy place, particularly to Buddhists.
When visited the temple, observed that many
persons including locals and foreigners
visited the place. I was told everyday
thousands of persons visit the holy place.
While going from Colombo to Kandy, places
like Mawanella, Ganethenna, Kadugannawa
etc. specially attracted me for its pristine
beauty. It may be mentioned that at
Ganethenna, one spice cum herbal garden is
located where local Ayurveda doctors explain
the importance of herbs and shrubs as well as
spices. They produce Ayurveda medicines
which are available for sale.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage:
During the course of Sri Lanka visit
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage must be
visited. It is located in the village Pinnawala
in the district of Kegalle at a distance of 90
kilometres from Colombo on way to Kandy.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is one of
Sri Lanka's most important tourist attractions.
The orphanage's (orphaned and abandoned
elephants and those injured) population of
pachyderm was around 93, making it the
world’s largest collection of captive
elephants. The elephants were in age from
new-born to elderly matriarch. It was
established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife
Department adjoining the Maha Oya River. In
1978 the Orphanage was taken over by the
National Zoological Gardens from the
Department of Wildlife subsequently, a
captive breeding program was launched in
1982. Since the inception of the programme
more than 20 elephants were raised (bred)
here and during the time of visit it was
reported that altogether 93 elephants were
staying.
(nationalzoo.gov.lk/elephantorphanage). The
objective of the Orphanage is to simulate a
natural habitat to these elephants. The
elephants are taken to the river twice a day for
a bath, and all the babies less than three years
of age are bottle fed by the mahouts and
volunteers. While visited the place, myself by
purchasing fruits from that place put in the
mouth of an elephant (outside fruits are not
allowed), observed bottle feeding and bathing
(spectacular scene), and all these first time I
experienced in my 61 years of age. Earlier,
such cases, I observed in TV only. According
to the Report, each adult pachyderm is given
around 76 kilograms of green matter a day
and around 2 kilograms of rice bran and
maize.
Decimation of the Elephant Population by
the British Colonialists:
Prior to the invasion of the British in Sri
Lanka in 1815, an estimated 30,000 elephants
lived on the Island. During the British rule
because of game hunting and jolly slaughter
by the British colonialists, the elephant
population was close to extinction. The
tragedy of decimation of the elephant
population prompted the Government of Sri
Lanka to initiate the Pinnawala Elephant
Orphanage. For all such activities and leaving
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