President Ranil Wickremesinghe has revealed ambitious plans to revamp Colombo into a vibrant Entertainment Hub, emphasizing the need for a new focal point for entertainment, music, and food in the heart of the city. Speaking on the proposal, the President outlined his vision to redefine the Independence Square area, creating a dynamic space that offers diverse forms of recreation.

"What do we do there? Very little. You go to a museum; it’s a short run. You go to Gangaramaya Temple. You look at the Ind Square and back. So what are we planning? It should be an area of entertainment, music, or food. All the way up to the Independence Square, it will be a new area,” President Wickremesinghe explained during the announcement.

Highlighting the historical context, the President drew parallels to the Anuradhapura era, noting that even then, there were zones dedicated to entertainment. While clarifying that he is not advocating for the revival of such zones, the President emphasized the importance of recognizing historical patterns in tourism.

"Tourism wasn't something new to us. Even during the Anuradhapura era, we had red-light zones. I am not advocating for it now. I am just giving you an idea about how it was. People came here to climb Sripada. The key to tourism is good hospitality. That's something we must work on," President Wickremesinghe added.