Government of Sri Lanka has decided to develop Polonnaruwa UNESCO World Heritage as a tourist destination in Sri Lanka. Discussion held Nov 15 2020 at the Polonnaruwa District Meeting of the Livelihood Development Committee at the District Secretariat.

Polonnaruwa Kingdom was the second capital of Sri Lanka for three centuries between 11th to 13th century after the destruction of Anuradhapura Kingdom in 993. Considering the archaeological prominence and the ancient technological superiority, UNESCO declared Polonnaruwa as a World Heritage in 1982 under the name of Ancient City of Polonnaruwa. Today Polonnaruwa is one of the key tourist destinations in Sri Lanka especially for cultural / wildlife / archeological related holiday packages in Sri Lanka. Further Polonnaruwa is a masterpiece and a living museum of ancient hydraulic management in Sri Lanka. 

The discussion mainly focused on the development of Polonnaruwa, a World Heritage Site, as an attractive tourist destination and the resumption of a more people-friendly tourism industry, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga said.

Further SLITHM (Sri lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management) is also planning to establish it’s branch in Polonnaruwa.

Minister Ranatunga stated that eco-tourism projects related to Maduru Oya, Somawathiya and Wasgamuwa forest reserves will be implemented in the future which will widen the opportunities of wildlife holidays in Sri Lanka.