Srilanka, March 21 -- The Tourism Ministry yesterday officially announced the appointment of a 13-member Tourism Advisory Committee, with no female representation.

The committee, formed under Section 32(1) of the Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005, was formalised on 18 March and will be chaired by John Keells Holdings Senior Vice President Dileep Mudadeniya. The initial list shared prior to the official announcement included SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall, but his name was not listed in the final lineup released by the ministry.

While an advisory body to drive Sri Lanka's tourism sector forward is welcome, the complete absence of women, despite their active role in the industry, has drawn sharp criticism. Business leaders and the publi...