The town of Nuwara Eliya lies in the middle of Sri Lanka. In the past, it has been known for its tea plantations and rose gardens. Now, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Rantunga wants to boost the town’s provision for tourists. This should bring more visitors to and increase appreciation of the idyllic region, with the aim of appealing to local and foreign tourists alike.

At a press conference in January, the Minister announced that the government will take steps to implement this plan. As part of this, the cable car project on Mount Pedro will be accelerated; Sri Lanka’s highest mountain stands in the central highlands, near the town of Nuwara Eliya. Climbing to the summit on foot is not permitted, as the path runs through a restricted military area. The Minister believes that a cable car could be an easy way to open up the summit for tourists.

As part of the redesign, around 52 million euros will also be invested in a cable car project from Nanu Oya to Nuwara Eliya.