Jan 02, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Central Cultural Fund (CCF), which mainly depends on income from cultural tourists who visit archaeological sites, is now lacking funds even to pay the salaries of its workers due to the drop in tourist arrivals since violence between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) escalated.

As a result, the CCF has had to suspend conservation work at some archaeological sites such as Yudaganawa, Buttala and Deegawapiya, CCF sources said.

Ticket sales from cultural tourists drastically dropped last year as the tourists, who are mainly from European countries, refrained from visiting the country due to travel warnings issued by their respective countries.

CCF’s income for the peak December 2006 season was a mere Rs. 18 million, while it needs at least Rs. 42 million to pay the salaries of around 2500 employees working at various archaeological sites. City Bank Card, Chase low rate loan, American Express