The Tourism Act No 38 of 2005 came into effect in October 2007, replacing the Sri Lanka Tourist Board Act No 10 of 1966, which was in effect for the past 41 years.
In terms of the provisions contained in the new act, the Tourism Development Fund was legally constituted, with 2 main sources, (1/3rd of the Airport Tax collections and 1% of the Turnover of all Sri Lanka Tourist Board registered establishments,) contributing finances to the fund.
The Act provided for the setting up of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, thereby replacing the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. The Tourism Promotion Bureau was set up to manage Marketing and Promotion.
Tourism HRD functions and the Hotels School operations are currently undertaken by the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management. The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau was also restructured as a statutory body like other Institutions to be managed by an independent Board of Management.
The new Tourism Boards set up under the new Tourism Act are:
Other features include:
Tourism Development Fund
Tourism Advisory Committee
Commissioner for Tourism Administration
Tourist Police Division
