President Maithripala Sirisena pulled out of Sri Lanka Tourism Awards ceremony last night following reporters that tourism industry leaders are planning to boycott the event against the President's participation. 

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said Sirisena was invited for the event on the basis that he is the head of state. 

However, tourism industry leaders have claimed that the current political turmoil has severely hampered the tourism industry and over 300000 jobs have been severely affected. 

Two days before President Sirisena triggered the political crisis appointing Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister, Sri Lanka was named the top tourism destination in the world by Lonely Planet. 

Shortly after the reports emerged that tourism industry leaders have decided to boycott the award ceremony, President Sirisena issued a circular prohibiting all state institutions from using private hotels for state functions.