Over 50 reputed companies from the Western Medicine profession, indigenous ayurveda practitioners and others engaged in wellness tourism activities such as spas, yoga and meditation have teamed up to form the Sri Lanka Wellness Tourism Association (SLWTA) which is expected to represent their interests with the government as well as the larger stakeholder base notably foreign partners and clients.
The meeting was held at the Sri Lanka Export Development Board.
Trevor Reckerman was elected as the interim president.
The following members were appointed:
President: Trevor Reckerman (Talisman Enterprises); Vice Presidents: Shelly Thenuwara (Tree of Life); Shalin Balasuriya (Spa Ceylon), Sudeera Kankanamge (Sen Wellness Sanctuary); Secretary: Mrs. Nilusha Kodituwakku (Ayurva Travellers);
Treasurer: Hashan Cooray (Jetwing Hotels).
Members: Dr. Prasad Medawatte (Lanka Hospitals), Mrs. Geetha Karandawela (Barberyn Ayurveda Resort), Dr. Sampath Puncihewa (Faculty of Law, University of Colombo), Mrs. Paddy Paul (Golden Isle Travels), Prabhan Gunawardana (Hemas Hospital).
SLWTA members are drawn from the Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes (APHNH), ayurveda establishments registered with the Department of Ayurveda and Sri Lanka Tourism, Wellness Tourism Companies registered with Sri Lanka Tourism and Wellness Tourism Professional Consultants.
The new Ex Co will shortly consider the primary objectives concerning industry practices, including regulation governing these diverse groups, in a Draft Constitution that will be adopted at the forthcoming AGM. High on their priorities are an international symposium mooted by the Ministry of Industrial Export and Investment Promotion which recently met with the EDB and the Wellness Tourism Advisory Committee and SLWTA members to discuss the activities of the sector.