Colombo, March 5, 2025 – The British High Commission and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) introduced a Counter-Terrorism Awareness eLearning Platform aimed at enhancing security awareness and resilience within Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Modelled after the UK’s successful Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) initiative, this online course equips tourism professionals with the skills to identify and address potential threats, ensuring a safer environment for visitors and locals.

A launch event on 5 March was attended by Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe and Acting British High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, Lisa Whanstall. Key stakeholders from the tourism sector, emergency services, and government agencies participated.

Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe stressed the importance of safety as Sri Lanka’s tourism industry continues to grow:

"Tourism is vital to our economy, and a secure environment is essential for both visitors and locals. This programme is a crucial step towards preparing our industry for future challenges."

Acting British High Commissioner Lisa Whanstall commented,

"We are proud to lend UK expertise to enhance Sri Lanka’s tourism capacity. This training will help improve security practices in the tourism industry, building confidence in security awareness.  We know this is important to local communities and to travellers. We hope to see British visitor numbers continue to rise in the years ahead.”

SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam, in a statement, emphasized the organisations commitment to safety: 

"As we see a re-growth in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, visitor and staff safety remain top priorities. This eLearning course will empower our professionals to detect and respond to security threats, fostering greater confidence in the capacity of our industry."

Key Features of the eLearning Platform

• Multilingual Access: Available in Sinhala and Tamil for broad accessibility.
• Comprehensive Content: Covers recognizing suspicious behaviour, identifying vulnerabilities, and managing potential threats.
• Certification: Participants will earn certificates jointly issued by SLTDA and the British High Commission upon completion.
• Flexible Learning: A 60-90-minute online course accessible anytime.
• Open to All: Designed for everyone in the tourism sector, from hoteliers to tour operators.

Building on previous counter-terrorism training that has already reached over 3,000 industry stakeholders in the past three years, this eLearning platform is part of an ongoing effort to reinforce safety and bolster Sri Lanka’s reputation as a secure and welcoming destination.

Tourism professionals are encouraged to enrol to better prepare their teams for potential security challenges and improve overall safety standards. For more information or to register, visit www.ctatraining.lk or contact the Standards and Quality Assurance Division of the SLTDA.

Background

The British High Commission and SLTDA have long been committed to enhancing safety in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, continuously collaborating to build a secure and resilient destination for both local and international visitors.

A statement from the Deputy Minister of Tourism Hon. Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe

Acting British High Commissioner addressing the gathering

Acting British High Commissioner Ms. Lisa Whanstall addressing the gathering

Attendees at the event

Group photo with the officials who participated at the event

Receiving a certificate of Appreciation from the Deputy British High Commissioner

Industry stakeholders giving their statements through the presentation

Launching the Counter Terrorism awareness E-Learning Platform

Mr. Matt Potts CT Country Coordinator BHC Colombo and Male addressing the gathering

Mr. Matt Potts CT Country Coordinator BHC Colombo and Male doing the presentation

Ms. Priyanthi Jayawardena, Inspection Officer SLTDA, during her speech

The SLTDA officers