Launching the Homestay Tourism Promotion Program to Economically Empower the Rural Community through the Tourism Industry.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Homestay Tourism Promotion Program to Economically Empower the Rural Community through the Tourism Industry and the Department of Samurdhi Development (ceygate Travels (pvt) ltd) was held yesterday (23.12.2025) under my patronage at the Ministry Auditorium.

Among the main objectives of the government is the eradication of poverty. The Samurdhi Development Department, affiliated to the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, has been given the main responsibility for this. Accordingly, projects to empower 400,000 low-income families per year have already been implemented. Simultaneously, the project is expected to strengthen the rural economy through the tourism industry.

As a result of several rounds of discussions led by a group of Sri Lankan experts based in the United States on measures to be taken to empower low-income families, the project aims to train low-income communities in rural areas to become economically empowered by contributing to the promotion of the tourism industry, prepare the background, provide assistance and credit facilities.

The MoU regarding the program was signed by the Director General of the Department of Samurdhi Development, C.D. Kaluarachchi, and the Managing Director of ceygate Travels (pvt) Ltd, K.S.A.C. Senarath Arach.

I inaugurated the ceygate online application and the pre-launch advertisement related to the joint program was also displayed.

Professor Ajith Karunaratne of Saint Louis University in the United States and Sunil Herath, Chairman of ceygate Travels, expressed their views on the timely need of the program through the online method.

The event was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Mr. Sampath Mantrinayake, Additional Secretary Ms. Nathiya Piyasena, Ministry officials, and officials of the Department of Samurdhi Development.