The Chairman of the Hettigoda Group, Mr. Asoka Hettigoda, was elected as the new President of The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL).

The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) held its Annual General Meeting for 2025 at Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, where the Chairman of the Hettigoda Group, Mr. Asoka Hettigoda, was elected as the new President of the Association. The event brought together the top leadership of the tourism and aviation sectors, including the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Hon. Vijitha Herath, the Deputy Minister, the Chairman of SLTDA, SLTPB, and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, as well as the CEO of SriLankan Airlines, foreign mission representatives, and senior members of the hospitality industry.

In his inaugural address, President-elect Mr. Asoka Hettigoda expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him and outlined several key priorities for his first year in office. Central to his vision is the establishment of a ‘Unified Industry Committee’, bringing together all major tourism associations under one collaborative platform.

Mr. Asoka Hettigoda also highlighted the need for stronger public-private partnerships, industry capacity building, innovation-led service delivery, and sustainable growth frameworks tailored to the evolving preferences of global travellers.

The AGM drew an impressive cross-section of national and international stakeholders, reflecting the importance of THASL’s leadership role in shaping the future of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.