To recognize industry stakeholders of past and present to encourage and to ensure their contribution in the future for the sustainable development of the tourism industry.Presidential Awards for Travel & Tourism 2008 was held on 26th January 2009 as the 2nd edition at BMICH with large number of stakeholders and distinguished invitees. The event was organized by the Ministry of Tourism together with Mr. Nalin Attygalle a professional Marketing and Management Consultant and former president of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing. The awards were presented to the winners by the Prime Minister Hon. Ratnasiri Wickramasinghe who was the Chief Guest of this event.

The number of awards made was 48 in 11 segments which were identified by the organizing committee and the award scheme is overlooked by an Advisory Council and Executive Committee. Winners selected by an eminent and distinguished panel of Judges based on a comprehensive evaluation criteria. The Judges were chosen in the fields such as quality control, hygiene aspects, financial performance, hospitality Management and marketing with international exposure and chaired by marketing and managerial consultant Mr. Nalin Attygalle.