"Just the Beach": Sri Lankan Minister's comments on Maldives tourism spark outrage

Sri Lanka's Minister of Tourism and Lands, Harin Fernando, has come under fire for his comments about the Maldives at the recent ITB Berlin fair.

Speaking at a panel discussion at the fair held between March 7 - 9, Fernando compared the Maldives and Sri Lanka as tourist destinations. He was speaking about the variety of experiences offered in Sri Lanka for tourists and said that there are a lot of options available in the country, from colder mountainous areas to warm beaches, as well as wellness tourism with specialised Ayurvedic treatments.