Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena yesterday said that plans are afoot to implement a development programme with the aim of attracting local and foreign tourists to the Ella area.
Minister Dr. Gunawardena is of the view that an apartment consisting about 500 units that can be constructed in the land of former Ella Station Master’s bungalow, facing the amazing view of natural beauty of Ella will help attract more tourists to the region.
Minister Dr.Gunawardena had inspected the area when he went to participate in the distribution of buses to SLTB depots to several areas including Nuwara-Eliya. The Minister has looked into the possibility of using this place for the development of tourism.
Later, he had a discussion with the officials concerned in this regard.The discussion also focused on obtaining foreign investment for this programme. The Minister said that if an investor comes forward to build an apartment complex with 500 houses in this venue, it has the potential to become a tourist attraction.
The Minister said local tourists will also have the opportunity to buy these houses and enjoy their holidays and for the rest of the time, this place can be rented out to foreign tourists. Accordingly, he pointed out that those who buy these houses have the ability to turn them into a source of income and sell them.