Lanka bids to be host country at Berlin ITB in 3 years
Sri Lanka is making a strong bid to be the host country of the ITB, the world's largest leisure exhibition in three years' time. This year the host country is Mongolia and the next year it's the Maldives. Tourism and Sports Minister Naveen Dissanayake addressing the opening ceremony of the ITB said that this will bring unprecedented publicity to Sri Lanka and it's a matter they are seriously considering. "We will make a bid." He also said that the Ministry would like to work jointly with the industry stake holders and he welcomes private public partnerships. "Transparency will also be a priority of the ministry which was something that was lacking hitherto.We will also take decisions in consultation with the industry stakeholders."
The Sri Lanka pavilion at the world's biggest travel fair, ITB in Berlin, this year is promoting 'Positive Transformation' in the country following the peaceful and decisive presidential election held on 8 January 2015. The fresh push to woo German and other European tourists at ITB Berlin is supported by the participation of 52 private sector travel and hotel firms. The Lankan pavilion was inaugurated by Tourism and Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake earlier this week in the presence of Sri Lankan Ambassador for Germany and Switzerland Karunatilleka Amunugama, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Chairman Dr. Rohantha Athukorala and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Paddy Vithana. 
Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs, held bilateral discussions with H.E. Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, on 3rd March 2015, on the sidelines of the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. 
Sri Lanka registered a tourism growth of 6.6% with a total visitors of 156,246 in January as per the provincial data with key markets of India at +28.8% with 22,944 visitors, UK at +4% with 13,410 visitors, France +7.9% with 9,095 visitors, Germany at +12.6% with 10,375 visitors, China at +8.9% with 11,375 visitors and Italy at +8.5% with 2,710 visitors Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau Chairman Rohantha Athukorala said. 
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday emphasized the urgent need for unity in its truer sense, which he said the new Government would sincerely endeavour to deliver, along with a stronger democracy and economy.