May 06, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Minister of Tourism has appointed former Minister and UNP parliamentarian Sirisena Cooray to handle an important project of great cultural significance. He is to develop a Buddhist Pilgrim Travel Trail initially with India and later extended to other SAARC countries, South East and East Asia.
Cooray has a long distinguished and varied career and earned the reputation of being a doer. He also has considerable experience in helping to develop Buddhagaya when he had held ministerial office previously.
(Courtesy : Lanka Page )
Sirisena Cooray to promote Buddhist tourism
Former minister B Sirisena Cooray was appointed in charge of a special project in promoting international tourism.Mr. Cooray is initially to assist the ministry in promoting Buddhist pilgrim travel to India, a press release issued by the Tourism ministry said. The role will later be extended to cover SAARC, South East and East Asia, it said.The appointment was made by minister Milinda Moragoda in consultation with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
CMC elections
The former minister under United National Party (UNP) led governments was the General Secretary of the UNP during President R Premadasa’s tenure. Mr. Cooray who has been living in Australia for a while returned to the country to contest the Colombo Municipal Council elections.But his nomination papers were rejected leading the UNP to launch an investigation against Milinda Moragoda, who promoted Mr. Cooray’s candidacy.
Mr. Cooray later supported the independent group that joined the government after winning the elections.
(Courtesy : BBC Sinhala )