Economy

Tourism industry hit by immigration delays and inefficiencies

Published

2 years ago

September 2, 2024

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is facing severe setbacks due to prolonged delays and inefficiencies at the country’s main airport, Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Reports of long-queues, slow moving lines for visa on arrival, and indifferent service by immigration officers have marred the experience for tourists and returning Sri Lankans alike, resulting in a significant drop in daily arrivals and substantial economic impact.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), daily arrivals have dropped drastically from around 6,000 visitors to 2,000 since 18 August.

Industry feedback suggests that the country may have lost around 40,000 potential tourists in August alone, reflecting an estimated economic loss of $ 120 million.

Despite these alarming figures, there has been little response from the authorities responsible for immigration.

“We have repeatedly been trying to engage with the Department of Immigration and Emigration Controller General for over a week without success,” a top official of Sri Lanka Tourism told the Daily FT.

He said that Sri Lanka Tourism has been lobbying alongside the Tourism Ministry to address these issues, including the simple step of increasing the number of counters for on-arrival visas. Yet, these efforts have been met with silence.

The situation has sparked criticism from industry stakeholders and travellers. Complaints highlight the stark contrast between the warm welcome Sri Lanka promises and the cold, apathetic reality encountered at its main airport.

These issues have raised concerns about the commitment of immigration services to supporting the tourism industry, a vital foreign exchange generating industry to the economy.

Industry stakeholders claimed that the silence from officials and the lack of concrete actions to improve the situation only add to the frustration.

“The inefficiencies at the BIA are not only deterring tourists, but also tarnishing the image of Sri Lanka as a welcoming destination. Immediate reforms are crucial to streamline the visa, immigration process to show a genuine commitment to reviving the tourism industry,” industry stakeholders pointed out.

Source – DailyFT

Economy

Sri Lanka literacy hits record 97.4%, gender gap closes for first time

Published

3 hours ago

April 12, 2026

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Sri Lanka has achieved a historic education milestone, with literacy rising to 97.4% in 2024, up from 95.7% in 2012.

For the first time since 1881, the literacy gender gap has closed, with males at 97.9% and females at 97.0%.

Digital literacy has reached 67.6%, while computer literacy stands at 34.7%, highlighting Sri Lanka’s growing digital transformation.

Economy

$ 900 m in four months: Port City Colombo signals new investment era

Published

1 day ago

April 11, 2026

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From November 2025 to March, Port City Colombo secured approximately $ 900 million in investments, an almost unprecedented surge for a project that had seen gradual traction in its early years amid broader macroeconomic challenges. The timing is not accidental.

After a prolonged period marked by the Easter Sunday attacks, the global shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Sri Lanka’s economic collapse, the project remained largely in a holding pattern.

International marketing efforts began to gain momentum from late 2025 onwards, as conditions began to stabilise.

“The macro story had to align first,” Aluwihare explained. “You cannot market a country when the fundamentals are unstable. Now, we are seeing recovery, policy alignment, and growing confidence, and we are finally seeing the results.”

From real estate to a ring-fenced financial ecosystem

Port City Colombo’s most significant transformation has been conceptual rather than physical. Originally envisioned as a waterfront real estate development, it has evolved into a fully ring-fenced services export Special Economic Zone (SEZ), enabled by the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act.

Economy

Sri Lanka’s Official Reserves fall 3.5%in March – CBSL

Published

3 days ago

April 9, 2026

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Sri Lanka’s Official Reserve Assets have decreased by 3.5% to USD 7,019 million in March 2026, according to the latest data of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The CBSL states that the decrease is from USD 7,270 million reported in February 2026.

The CBSL further states that the figure for March includes the swap arrangement with the People’s Bank of China.