Despite heavy criticism leveled against the current Managing director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) Charmarie Maelge due to her unprofessional and unethical behavior, coming hot on the heels is her obvious favoritism to a male Assistant director who has been included in the Sri Lankan delegation to the World Travel Mart (WTM ) that will take place early November.
Johan Amrathunga
Chamarie Maelage (MD)
Kishu gomes (chairman SLTPB)
The annual presence of Sri Lanka at the World’s largest travel trade show is usually marked with participation of the local industry, officials of the SLTPB and the Minister in charge of the subject. SLTPB is usually represented by its Chairman,Managing director or a person who holds a director position and the market officer. However, it is reported that Maelge has deliberately excluded SLTPB chairman Kishu Gomes and included a male Assistant Director who is not the “officer-in-charge of the UK market. Hence, SLTPB delegation will now include its Managing Director, Director (Marketing ), Market officer and an additional male officer who has been hand picked by the Managing director herself. Due to this sudden inclusion total travel cost of the delegation will exceed more than LKR three million.
What is shocking is the conduct of Maelge who has strongly objected when a female additional secretary to the Ministry of Tourism Development, Wild life and Christian religious affairs had opposed to the purported move to include the particular Assistant Director to the delegation with no valid reason, citing that the inclusion of an additional officer who neither handled nor had previous exposure in the market would add no value to the event. Unsubstantiated cost of this inclusion is seemingly an act of abuse of state funds at the behest of personal preferences. The said additional director currently faces an investigation on the undue promotion bestowed on him, overlooking many competent officers, by the SLTPB management that represented previous regime in 2014.
Reportedly Maelage has threatened the additional secretary and obtained approval for the questionable additional director to be included in the delegation. Raucous SLTPB Managing director had justified her decision pointing out that it was her sole decision and that she could get any approval using Minister John Amarathunga’s clout and that the additional secretary had no right to question her arbitrary decision. Reputed public Servant who is an additional secretary administration in the ministry of tourism development, after the incident, has reported the incident to senior ministerial hierarchy and the continuous unprofessional conduct of the SLTPB managing director. Insulting approach by the SLTPB Managing director towards the senior ministerial officer has drawn heavy flak from the ministerial senior staff, industry and tax paying travel agents questioning why such an inclusion of an officer was made while excluding its own chairman whose participation is of highest priority.
“Recent baseless market reshuffles, unwarranted favoritism to certain staff members and board of directors and constant threats and intentional discrimination of several SLTPB staff have been highlighted by many as unbecoming behavior of a top government official, specially a person appointed to promote the country with sound people’s skills,” the Ministry sources told Colombo Telegraph.
“However, the Minister and his staff have failed in addressing the issues despite severe criticism against Maelge during recent times. Further the male assistant director in question Viranga Bandara currently faces several inquires including a major investigation by the tourism ministry as to how he got his unjustifiable promotion in 2014 by the then chairman of SLTPB violating the government procedures. Meantime Maelge has failed to produce her qualifications to prove suitability to hold the Managing Director position as her appointment had been made at the intervention of an advisor to the subject minister with out considering her educational back ground and required competencies,” our sources further said. (By Maga Senarat)
bhumiputhra bandaara / November 2, 2019
Tourist Board is den of thieves durinmy time at our embassy in Tokyo thoroughly checked claims by SLTB Agent Mr
Otha once he gave a packet to be included in the diplomatic mail bag to an official in the board I was suspicious and weighed the package and found it was almost 3 kilos I opened and checked the contents and found about 200 color photographs with enlargements of a local wedding apparently sent by a high official of the board and I kept the photos in the embassy Mr Otha panicked and asked me I mentioned to him I am unable to send A 3 kilos of private mail in the DPL mail bag Then a top official called me from the tourist Board and begged for help lastly on humanitarian grounds I agreed to send the photos in batches within the next two moths.i.e. eight installments
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CITIZEN / November 3, 2019
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Shanaka Lasith / November 3, 2019
Readers should understand , why this kind of an article has been published . Has anyone in SLTPB history has this kind of jokes. No never. After jokers start being appoint as Managing Director in SLTPB the staff had face lot of problems. She doesn’t have any knowledge in the industry , marketing or administration. What she does was telling other persons mistakes or making other staff into trouble by making stories to Minister, Ministry Secretary. Chamarie Maelgee is a nasty woman. No discipline, no respect for people. Always in a angry mood and so rude to staff. She has only faith with Virana Bandara. She has fight all the higher Authority at Tourist Board. You name the person. No one like Chamarie Maelgee. Have ever you heard that this kind of articles being published in this kind of sites. No never. This reflects Chamarie Maelgees bad bad dirty behaviour. Please accept it.
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EA / November 4, 2019
Come somebody pleas give her the name of a decent hairdresser?
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Wijedasa liyanawaduge / November 5, 2019
SLTPB former Managing Directors had a reputation and they never damage SLTPB name. Industry knows who is Chamarie Maelgee and this lady has brought by Minister’s secretary Phelix. Chamaie Maelgee has no reputation, or she has almost tarnish the good name of SLTPB Managing Director’s position. We got to know that Chamarie Maelgee has no place in the industry and she is a failure Managing Director at SLTPB
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Kumudu Iddamalgoda / November 5, 2019
Minister and Ministry secretary responsible to keep this type of Managing Director, Chamarie Maelgee at SLTPB. Industry knows that SLTPB wrong political appointments of Chairman, & Managing Directors have done wrong promotions, recruitment etc. No doubt , Chamaie Maelgee is one of the best of all set of dirty persons.
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Rajeeve Hattotuwa / November 6, 2019
Last month Chamarie Maelgee was planned to go to China. The same day it was cancelled by the Hon Minister as her work all pending..due to the personal payment she has put her name also to the board paper.she is greedy woman. (She doesn’t know how to ware a saree neatly).she was failure to attend what Minister has given. Some Advertising pending , Promotional campaign, Deligital campaign all pending. They talk about BIG PROMOTION s at SLTPB FOR WTM. You know Chamarie Maelgee didn’t have a single srilanka MAP for the past 07 months. But they published a very big talks ??!???!!. She has time only for Viranga Bandara,who joined as a Junior Manager to SlTPB. Readers please contact SLTPB and check whether this infort are true or not. Because Chamarie Maelgee is fully triying that who has published this information to the Colombo telegraph. That is the truth behind while story. Please call and check with SLTPB.
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shankar / November 7, 2019
she badly needs his input to put out her output.
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Joseoh Rajah / November 8, 2019
Disgrace and shame. We are beggars because of the corruption. I left Sri Lanka fifty years ago because of the political corruption. Where are the extremist Malwattha and Asgiria.
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Asanka Pelawatta / November 7, 2019
From May to November Chamarie has travelled 16 Foreign Tours and Viranga Bandara has travelled overseas 14 times. There is a another one in December.. Since SLTPB has money no body worries of wasting that money. SLTPB has doing their own way. Sri Lakan citizens are suffer by paying higher taxes in order to give a successful life for stupid officers like Chamarie Malegee and Viranga Bandara
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Asanka Pahalawatta / November 7, 2019
From May to November Chamarie has travelled 16 Foreign Tours and Viranga Bandara has travelled overseas 14 times. There is a another one in December.. Since SLTPB has money no body worries of wasting that money. SLTPB has doing their own way. Sri Lakan citizens are suffer by paying higher taxes in order to give a successful life for stupid officers like Chamarie Malegee and Viranga Bandara
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Lioinel don / November 7, 2019
From May to November Chamarie has travelled 16 Foreign Tours and Viranga Bandara has travelled overseas 14 times. There is a another one in December.. Since SLTPB has money no body worries of wasting that money. SLTPB has doing their own way. Sri Lakan citizens are suffer by paying higher taxes in order to give a successful life for stupid officers like Chamarie Malegee and Viranga Bandara
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shiraf / November 7, 2019
This is really Very sad situation.These all SLTPB markets handling officers are same.They are not giving any chance to other skilled seniour staff.Some markets are in very pour position.They think we are the real people to do this. Management of SLTPB is going on their own agenda no real policy. We know what to do.Some Markets handling people don’t know how to speak English .We will see what happening to SLTPB in near future.In short form here do not have management.They don’t have back bones………….
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Sanjeewani / November 8, 2019
For your attention Next MD-SLTPB -Many thieves are in the SLTPB .SLTPB Managemet team is not giving Target to each markets and not removing the market officers from the failure Market.So they are going to overseas for many years.Never monitoring each other.I personally know too much Assistant directors are here.So all are going to be bosses.Management team is blind for their benefits.I know here are some talented senior guys in the SLTPB. Some of them are in the out of the Head office.They have new ideas and good vision about Sri Lanka Tourism.Please give them to chances to promote srilanka in Overseas .Then you can understand the different between rotten and new. Pls go to the new way SLTPB …!!!!
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Surindu N. Nawarathna) / November 8, 2019
Many staff in the SLTPB has got the wrong appointment. Wrong promotion. Who did this. No one answer. Same illegal things have been happening at SLTPB for a long time. There was no proper leader to look at those illegal matters identify and punish those staff. Some have inquiries . But they still go Foreign Trips. Due to Political power time to time SLTPB got useless dirty persons like Chamaire Maelgee and tarnish SLTPB. Check the facts and figures . Go in detail what is happening and how these Chamarie has changed markets, Changed persons and appoint has Heads of the Sectors.. What is the logic behind this. There is no logic. This market changed has purely done by Chamarie Maelgee, Phonix, and Viranga Bandara. Please check the information at SLTPB.
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Nimmi Botheju / November 8, 2019
SLTPB is heavily corrupted by this kind of wrong political appointments and illegal promotions. Please check each and everyone’s qualification and experience whether they could perform current title. They just appoint . They just do transfers. Three years back what Viranga has joined as a Junior Manager to SLTPB. Viranga couldn’t perform and he was just perform his duties as Assistant to Managing Director. Viranga has just perform as a messenger, coordinator, work to Managing Director. He was not allocate for any market. Finally he has got Indian market and one of Managing Director has helped him how to perform in the market and spoon-feed. Check how Viranga Bandara has become Asst. Director all of a sudden at SLTPB. There is a big Audit taken by the Ministry. Managing Director, Chamarie Malegee is trying to stop this Audit by using her power through the Minister as well. This is the thing happen every time at SLTPB. Check this So Srilanka SLTPB.
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Mahinda Weerakkody / November 8, 2019
Please check the reality of this Promotion Bureau. Most of them have taken without having proper qualifications, and promoted unethically. What was the logic behind changed the Market. This changed has done purely by Chamarie Maelgee , Phenix and Viranga Bandara. Still no one question on how this changes have done. Not a single person from Ministry or Minister’s office or State Minister’s office quarry about these major changes to the market. Chamrie has given 08 European markets for Viranaga Badara only. Main purpose is to go with him and to earn. Because Viranga was handling only Indian market. Asian countries getting only $40 per day. What a SLTPB Chamarie????
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Nedurana Hettige / November 8, 2019
In history of SLTPB, never had a this type of a nasty woman who hold this Managing Director Position. People respect for this title and the person too. What happen today in SLTPB. No one respect this title or this shit woman Chamarie Maelgee. The behaviour of this Chamarie Maelgee is actually at zero level. Not only zero Level. It a shame her level is Minus. SLTPB had many Managing Directors, but non of them has act shit like Chamarie Maelgee. What is her back ground. Does she has perform anywhere? Any Institution, organization, Ministry .. .No not at all. No one will appoint this type of Sick crack case. This entertainment only from So Sri lanka – SLTPB
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Kapila Lakshan / November 8, 2019
Go to SLTPB and query before argue with these correct information. Example , there is a one fat lady officer who brought by a Politician name Thanuja Munaweera. She is an utter useless officer. Chamarie has given her title as “WEB Editor” . What is she doing . She cannot speak a single English . Nothing has updates on SLTPB sites. Last month she has just been appoint to go to Japan for a conference. Now Chamarie has given approval to participate for China Training for the whole one month. The total cost is bare by the SLTPB. Now what is the out come to SLTPB by sending these type of woman for training. Thanuja Munaweera has given an apple phone , apple lap top and apple desktop as well. What is she doing. Check what is Thanuja Munaweera’s role and her Job description. Nothing. Speak to her in English. She will be blank. But her title carries Asst. Director – web Editor. The whole two months she is away. Currently she is in china Training. Please stop these nonsense at SLTPB. So readers could identify what a qualified officers being titled as Asst. Director category. Please do privatise this SLTPB
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Sentil Samaranayaka / November 8, 2019
Before Chamarie Maelgee’s China trip, Hon. Minster has blasted her. Hon. Minister has informed to Chairman , SLTPB to stop her attending China . However the ticket has been cancelled. After that Chamarie has cried and told to Hon. Minister and Chairman that she was unable to face her family, Industry and officers at SLTPB as she give big talks on this trips. After crying hours and hours Hon. Minster agrees and Chairman has released. Soon after China trip Chamarie has gone to meet Hon. Minister without going to office. (DON’T KNOW FOR WHAT????) We know every day Hon. Minister is blasting this woman as this woman has brought by Phelix , who works as a Minister’s secretary.
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Chamila Kithsiri / November 8, 2019
Chamarie, there should be an equal rights for all market officers? Why you have given so much of facilities , benefits only for Viranga Bandara. SLTPB and Industry knows why special treatment for Viranga Bandara? What about other Sector Heads?? Why Hon. Minister or Ministry Secretary no questioning from Chamarie??? This is the So Sri Lanka truth. We pay tax for these kind of Street ladies to go for shopping through SLTPB
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RG / November 8, 2019
Few disgruntled SLTPB staff flooding this place with malicious comments, pure vitriol; they talk about qualifications, ability etc. but can hardly string a sentence in English. Look at the grammar and syntax- need I say more?
To all of you losers, Chamarie, Viranga and Madusha all were at WTM and did a grand job. So enjoy partaking excreta you losers (if you can understand it) You can keep your comments coming but good people like Chamarie, Viranga will move on.
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Gayan Maduranga / November 9, 2019
We got to know that Chamari Maelgee is not bothered about other operational matters at SLTPB. What she does was if she feels someone against her or not positive feeling of what she is doing Chamarie is hammering that officer until he/she leaves the Ministry. This has happened several officers at SLTPB. Chamarie remember there should be a limit of what you are doing. Don’t think that Viranga Banadara will look after to you as he is living together with you. By the time you leave this SLTPB there will be no Viranga Bandara. Viranga is having other connection and he is a Homo too. Therefore, please harassing employees at SLTPB. Rememer Chamarie, no one cannot harassing Government employees the way you want. There should be a valid reason for you to do it. This is not your home. SLTPB and their officers work fot the country. Not for you . If you are trying to be so smart at SLTPB, you may definitely face for a worst situation.
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Kolitha Kahadawela / November 9, 2019
Chairman is powerless person at SLTPB. All the Administration powers given to Chamarie Maelgee. Hon. Minister and the Ministry Secretary should have change this rule immediately. That’s why Kishu Gomes cannot stop Chamire Maelgee direct. Chamari , this woman has just came for a project at SLTDA and she has demand salary for Rs 300,000 . She has rejected and Chamarie has gone and met Phelix who work as a Secretary under Minister. Then Phelix has recommend this lady to SLTPB . This woman has been in SLTPB 10 years back and she knows the taste of money , Foreign Tours etc. Phonix is a good buddy of Viranga Bandara. That’s how these three are together. Hon. Minister should know what to do immediately. If he remove these three from SLTPB there will be a better future for SLTPB. Because no one could raise their voice at office. That’s why many comments for this article.
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Nelum Cooray / November 9, 2019
Chairman should have all Administration power and not for Chamari Maelgee. That’s why she is dancing too much at SLTPB. WTM is a form for Chairman at SLTPB and not for Managing Directors or for Sector Heads. Readers knew the truth. Simply call SLTPB and ask for a cheque. We had to wait .. how long?? Can we talk to Chamari and get a solution. Last month I was at SLTPB to get a cheque. Without appointment Chamarie has refused to talk to suppliers like us. Therefore, do you know how many have stop giving services to SLTPB due to Chamarie’s bad behaviour and attitude.
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Nimal Kaluarachchi / November 9, 2019
Some are trying to find fault in comments. Don’t worry about the English or grammar here as this is not an English class. Check all comments carefully. All comments confirm what is happening at SLTPB. Just simply call SLTPB and ask some operational matter. Where it has been pending?? For how long?? Answer would be Chamarie. Therefore, take the content and of this comments. Because SLTPB or outsiders , or suppliers cannot raise their voices as this type of street ladies unqualified officers at SLTPB.
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