Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has reached a major milestone in the new year, with foreign arrivals surpassing 500,000 within the first seven weeks of 2026.
According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), a total of 505,751 tourists visited the island between January 1 and February 22.
The data shows a strong surge in travel during February, with 228,424 arrivals recorded in just the first 22 days of the month. A notable trend has been consistent weekly performance, with arrivals exceeding 70,000 for three consecutive weeks—70,355 in the first week, 77,870 in the second, and 71,101 in the third.
India remains Sri Lanka’s largest source market, contributing 89,277 visitors during the period.
Other key markets also showed strong growth, including:
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United Kingdom – 55,407 arrivals
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Russia – 45,351 arrivals
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Germany – 35,413 arrivals
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China – 31,621 arrivals
Significant numbers of travelers were also recorded from France, Australia and Netherlands.
Tourism officials say the strong start to 2026 reflects growing international confidence in Sri Lanka as a travel destination and signals positive momentum for the sector moving forward.
