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)
kebab / October 30, 2019
This corruption is like an erection that will not come down !
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meer / October 30, 2019
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Emil van der Poorten / November 2, 2019
kebab:
That was a most appropriate comment and one based on documented fact!
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Namalee / October 30, 2019
Yes this is very true known storey by all. But chamari has blocked all voices as no one is their to out a red line.
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Rommel Antony / October 30, 2019
“Sore Sri Lanka” ! looting tax payers money for pleasure trips..Where is John ?? Probably “sleeping” i guess.
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Gamini / October 31, 2019
I have said it before. I will say it again. Most Sri Lankans (especially Politicians) are corrupt to the core! They mostly think in terms of ‘what the country can do for you’. Unfortunately this is the example set by most ‘Leaders’ which are also being followed by its citizens. The solution is to have standards, rules and regulations to govern all activities of the the government and to establish a monitoring and regulatory body. Mostly Politicians are to be blamed for not acting with foresight in the best interest of the country at large.
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Ravi / October 31, 2019
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Nosey Parker / October 31, 2019
Kishu Gomes is one of the top marketing professionals in the country . Without doubt big John will continue under a Wickramasinghe government after the upcoming poll as will most of the other fossils.
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Tony / October 31, 2019
SLTPB MD is just a lecturer and no single knowledge in the marketing or administration. She is a God buddy of Minister’s secretary Phenix and he brought him. Still she is unable to produce her certified certificates
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Tony / October 31, 2019
SLTPB MD, chamaree Maelgee was initially joined as Director Marketing some years back. This time she has joined through Phenix, who works as a secretary to the Minister. Phenix is a good friend of Viranga Bandara who joined as a Junior Manager and suddenly promoted to Asst Director. This MD is sooo ….. Friendly with viranga and gave him France market as SLTPB paying $450 a day for Europe markets as insidental. So where ever MD travel she takes Viranga. What they do is rather than promoting foreigners to come to SL. They write to Embassies and get letter for major function s in their countries. MD arrange her good buddies incuding viranga Bandara and give approval to arrange tours . All payments made by SLTPB.
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nalmen / October 31, 2019
does john agree to his inclusion
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MirakRajBanda / October 31, 2019
Sleep with dogs, wake up with fleas but the Dr.was so comfortable with the dogs for so many years and he was not even aware that he’s infected with Rabies!!!
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shankar / October 31, 2019
cupid’s arrows are unstoppable.we taxpayers will have to just patiently wait till its potency wears off.
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Nazreen khan / October 31, 2019
SLTPB has never ever had a this type of dirty woman in the history. Chamarie Malegee just a lecturer and Presidential House has certified her appointment as that she could appear to the Board of SLTPB as a Director only. It doesn’t state that this Chamaree Maelgee has appointed as Managing Director. This has copy to Treasury as well. SLTPB has couple of incidents where some officials have appointed for Senior Positions and send them out due to not enough qualification and required experience to perform as MD. Chamarie Maelgee is same as she is still struggling to produced her CV and certified certificates copies to Ministry.
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Chandi udugedara / October 31, 2019
No one has back bornn to stop these Chamarie Maelgee’s Illegal unethical work. Chamarie Maelgee has an affair with Viranga Bandara. Chamarie Maelgee is an old woman who has married twice and divorced. No man. Viranga is a Homo man. Long time he has slept with one of the Russian Embassodor (SriLankan). Viranga Bandara has got court to a murder case in Russia. His appointment is an political appointment. Minister sleep. Ministry Secretary sleep. So…. Sri lanka
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Hussain Ahamed / October 31, 2019
Chamarie Maelgee, MD has brought up by Phoenix, who work as Secretary to the Minister SLTPB. MD is living together with Viranga Bandara who is a HOMO man.as he had strong affair with Udayanga Weerathunga former Russian Ambassador. Viranga Bandara has got court to a murder case while he is in Russia while with Udayanga Weerathunga. Chamarie Maelgee knows everything hide from SLTPB staff. Non of SLTPB Senior officer has no back born to question from Chamaree Maelgee with regard to Foreign Tours as there is no such a rule in SLTPB. Even Minister and Ministry Secretary are misusing their valued signature for this stupid lady for waste public money.
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Sandali Geethika / October 31, 2019
SLTPB Minister or Ministry Secretary or Chairman just sign for all Foreign Tours request by Chamarie Maelgee. Those days former chairmans , MDs never misused Government Money like thsi. There were strict many rules in order to get approval. Some events actually should participate only Chairman and that particular market officer. Some events at least 10 companies should participate for us to send one officer for foreign event. After Chamarie Maelgee came whole set up was miserable and she takes all authority and take Viranga Bandara for all the events as she is living with Viranga Bandara. Otherwise how Chamarie Maelgee has got a 5th person approval , for Viranga Bandara from Minister Secretary to take him to WTM forum. The total cost for tickets, accomo, food, and their insidental around 30 million Government money. How Ministry secretary has given approval for Viranga Bandara who currently involve for Russian Market. SLTPB has no poweful man to put such rules and regulations. That’s why this type of cassde woman is playing with Government Money
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Suren / October 31, 2019
Tourism is a vital and top industry which employs thousands of people and generates huge sums as foreign exchange which is the oxygen for smooth functioning of the economy. Last year, Thailand earned US$ 91 billions from tourism alone which is more than our total GDP. The minister is not taking things seriously, he shouldn’t appoint medico people to these vital positions, instead he should do thorough headhunting for high caliber and capable persons. It’s not kidding, right now SL’s tourism industry is in the ICU, and going through hard and real pains. Hence, those who are entrusted to care for it should be highly dedicated and with grit determination to get it the glorious heights. See the pathetic situation of tourism marketing – last year, Thailand and Paris received 2 million visitors from India whereas SL on their door received 4000000 visitors, and same with Chinese, Thailand received 9 millions but we got less than 400000. So all not rosy and the minister and his top officials should get off their fat asses and put in huge effort to get tourism on the higher gear for the well being of the nation and it’s people. All those bad apples should be rooted out this instant for the industry to move forward.
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savesl / October 31, 2019
Also look at Srilankan, same story with vipula ceo lying tru his nose along with twice sacked ex ul director interfereing into all activities. This director is taking part in operational meetings, does not know the definition of non executive director. And usual ass kissers in the tune of DAG hide in my room and Rajind covering up all mis deeds.
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Prabath Gamage / October 31, 2019
WTM 2019 is like a wedding ceremony . reportedly there are more than 10 ministry officials participating with heavy expenses on the govt.. among them is ministry chief accountant and ministers advisors .. what is the need for them to go there ? Isn’t this like paying bribes for govt servants to get the work done ?? Why no one questions this ?? Ministry secretary should be blamed ..
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Ramani Kureraj / November 1, 2019
obviously . there is no one in SLTPB. The moment when someone questioning , Chamaree has issued warning letters and try to send out from the SLTPB. There are couple of incidents. She does very rude things to most officers and some have already been terminated.
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Menik jayarathne / October 31, 2019
“John Seeya” should bury himself .. what a shame this is for Tourism . If this is true this corrupted MD and officer should be interdicted & investigated.. these charges are severe , a clear misuse of public funds ..
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Sagara M Liyanage / November 1, 2019
Chamarie Maelgee , MD , SLTPB has changed all market officers blindly without knowing the logic behind this. Main objective of market changed planned was to give a European France Market to Viranga Bandara who has join SLTPB as a Junior Manager in year 2011. Chamarie Maelgee has given nearly 08 countries to Viranga Badnara and he has appointed as a Sector Head. That’s why MD has nominate Viranga Bandara as a Sector Head to participate for the WTM in UK . on 2nd November 2019 Chamarie Maelgee will plan to travel to UK. In SLTPB history only Chairman has participate and Not MD or MD’s boy friends participate. We still cannot understand why Minister and Ministry secretary or Kishu Gomes dead silent with this illegal decision to waste nearly 40 Million Government money for just a event like this.
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Senthil Ramanayaka / November 1, 2019
Tomorrow Chamarie Maelgee and Viranga Bandara is flying to WTM – UK . HAVE A NICE TIME.
Total responsibility should take Chamarie Maelgee for her unethical plans to waste Government money. SLTPB Board doesn’t know anything. This divorced woman appointed by just a Phonix at Minister’s office. Chamarie is not worrying about the operational work at SLTPB. All approvals are pending at her office as she open door …. and … only for Viranga Bandara
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Nihatha Mani / November 1, 2019
Any astute observer of this article can see it as fake. This was sent to all news media anonymously for publication, and CT in its infinite wisdom was the only channel to publish it. It is also clear from studying the comments that it is the same aggrieved party responsible for the comments under different names. This is called the Sri Lankan disease, where when someone is doing a good job, those who are either stealing and are under threat of losing their lucrative crime, resort to throwing mud. It always happens to honest people in SL and that is why most people who are capable leave these shores due to the culture of dishonesty. Let’s just say that people inside the SLTPB who have been selling visas and their brazen accomplices are part of this sham, are about to be revealed and outed arrested and prosecuted. They are desperate to kill the messenger! Need I say more?
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Nihatha Mani / November 1, 2019
Let us all use the good offices of social media for a useful purpose, namely to punish the crooks in our midst, who seem to have gotten away with their crime so far, due to using this kind of threat to intimidate professionals who are good at their job. Don’t forget when someone is working hard for the Country while someone else is selling their country down the tubes, it is the person selling the country down the tubes who engages in such dastardly claims, that can only be a figment of their imagination. We must immediately impose lie detector tests in public organizations to eviscerate them of such scum, so that we can make Govt servants more efficient and accountable to the people, who pay their salaries. We must also allow them to be summarily fired when proof of wrongdoing is is shown them, so others know their criminal days are numbered. So criminals within the SLTPB please be aware you are now on notice, you are all being watched, and you wont know what hits you when it does.
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Nihatha Mani / November 1, 2019
One must use reverse psychology to enable good to conquer over evil as the devil is always testing us, and the devil eventually pays for their sins. This country has a den of thieves that prevent the capable and the honest from doing their jobs, right across the employment spectrum, especially in state sector jobs that have political patronage, and inefficient jerks preventing the capable from performing to their potential. Short the traitors in the midst. So in this instance the traitors are those who make false allegations who are also complicit in making comments, in order to justify or give legitimacy to falsehood. Nice try, but you are not educated enough to lie, as your seething anger and envy for a job well done is apparent. You are reading this and your blood will curdle, but that is not all that will happen.
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Roberta Flack / November 1, 2019
What is the big fuss. They themselves came up with the silly tag line “ So Sri Lanka”. They are only living up to it.
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Jegan Gunarathne / November 1, 2019
SLTPB is a heavily corrupted govt. institute without doubt . Political influence, misuse of public funds , favoritisme, illegal recruitments & promotions , discrimination , inefficiency etc. etc ..
you name it they have it ..!!
The institute is a huge burden for Sri Lanka ..
#sltpb #wtm # misery #sosrilanka
#sosadsrilanka
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Sujith Sahabandu K / November 2, 2019
Chamari Maelgee and Viranga Bandara has gone together by same flight. This is the first time 4 persons participate for this BIGGEST EVENT in SLTPB- WTM . No Authority persons have a back borne to question for participation. There is no rules. If you take past 06 months Chamarie Maelgee’s Foregin trips records and Viranga Bandara’s Foregin trip records definitely SLTPB has spent early 80 Million. IMD has initially got approval for three including herself to participate for WTM. While Viranga Bandara has gone to Canada, MD has filled this form by herself and forwarded for Ministry approval. It has been rejected first time. Then MD has taken Viranga Bandara’s application personally and got approved by the Ministry Secretary. Sooooooooooooooooooooo nice MD, Chamarie Maelgee.
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Lasantha Ranawaka / November 2, 2019
SLTPB never had a this type of third class woman who became as a Managing Director. Chamarie Maelgee is old woman and not married, no husband. Poor lady.. only SLTPB could support her to find a boy friend to have fun while be in abroad Doesn’t matter delay in work, pending work , incomplete work, . please don’t worry .If there is no hurry for your MD, Chamarie Maelgee why others worrying so much. Since the Minister and Ministry Secretary has given approval for both Chamarie Maelgee and Viranga Bandara No hard and fast rules in SLTPB . But SLTPB never ever had a this type of a dirty Managing Director who tarnish SLTPB good name.
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Pradeep Senarathne / November 2, 2019
NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE !! Surely there is a truth to this story.. it is said devils dance where angels fear to tread. Unfortunately the medically aided senile Minister can do very little to stop these misdeeds in his own house it seems…… Surely his priorities lie elsewhere (I refrain from elaborating on that), The so called corrupted officials ride on his inability to control the system, its clear . Inefficacy begets corruption ….SO PATHETIC SRI LANKA : ( RIP SLTPB
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Nadeera Kuruvitabandara / November 2, 2019
SLTPB is a heavily unstructured govt. organisation to my knowledge . Once I was waiting more than 03 months to receive a payment for a service i have provided. I had to visit the finance division more than 12 occasions to remind them to pay me and to process the documents.. I was shocked to see the lethargy and bureaucracy rooted in the staff. The staff at the division treated me like a piece of S**t . I never provided them my services thereafter ..Simply its not a place for professionals like us..
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raza / November 2, 2019
There is no question that these are the reason the UNP is go.ing to be decimated. . It is not too late Sajith to interfere and fire the Minister
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