Economy

Tourist arrivals soar past 800,000

Published

2 years ago

May 10, 2024

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is celebrating a significant achievement as tourist arrivals surge past the 800,000 mark, instilling optimism for meeting year-end targets.

This milestone represents a remarkable upswing, a feat previously attained only in August of the preceding year. It underscores the considerable strides made in the tourism sector, reflecting strong interest and engagement with Sri Lanka as a premier destination for travelers.

During the first week of May alone, Sri Lanka welcomed 28,525 tourists, propelling the total number of visitors to 813,176.

For the year 2024, Sri Lanka Tourism is anticipating 2.3 million arrivals and aiming for an income of $4 billion.

India leads the charge as the foremost generating market for May, contributing 5,600 tourists, trailed by the Maldives with 3,170 visitors and the UK with 1,888 tourists.

Despite the typical seasonal dip in arrivals during May, industry stakeholders remain bullish. Sri Lanka Tourism is intensifying its efforts during this off-peak period, rolling out a global PR and digital campaign across 15 markets to attract more visitors.

Year-to-date (YTD) data underscores India’s dominance in the market, comprising 16% of total arrivals with 129,183 tourists. Russia closely follows with 13% (108,140), trailed by the UK at 9% (73,880), Germany at 7% (59,508), and China at 5% (49,432).

Economy

Galle ranks fifth among top 10 honeymoon destinations for 2026

Published

6 days ago

January 20, 2026

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Galle has been placed fifth among the world’s top 10 honeymoon destinations for 2026 in the latest rankings released by Tripadvisor.

The ranking forms part of Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best 2026 and is based solely on the volume and quality of traveller reviews submitted over a 12-month period.

Tripadvisor said the list reflects destinations that consistently received strong feedback from honeymoon travellers worldwide.

Beach and island destinations dominate the upper end of the 2026 rankings. Bali secured the top position, followed by Mauritius and the Maldives, with St. Lucia ranked fourth. Galle placed fifth, ahead of several established long-haul honeymoon favourites.

Tripadvisor noted that Galle’s appeal lies in its blend of heritage and coastal experiences. Founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Galle Fort remains a key attraction, with preserved ramparts, historic buildings, and walkable streets.

Economy

Sri Lanka Postal Service achieves record revenue

Published

2 weeks ago

January 12, 2026

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Sri Lanka’s postal service has recorded a remarkable turnaround in 2025, surpassing revenue targets set by the Treasury and signalling a major revival after years of stagnation.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said the Department of Posts generated Rs. 13.1 billion last year, exceeding the revenue target assigned for 2025.

He highlighted that the past year also saw wide-ranging reforms, including large-scale recruitments, confirmations of long-serving staff, infrastructure upgrades, and investments in technology and transport to improve efficiency and service delivery.

According to Sathkumara, 378 Sub-Postmasters received permanent appointments in June 2025—the first confirmations for the category since 2020. In September, the appointments of 1,000 Postal Assistants were regularised, marking the first such confirmations since 2022.

The Postmaster General added that recruitment is underway to hire 600 Postal Service Officers through open competition, with appointments expected in February 2026.

Economy

Sri Lanka ranked most affordable place to live or retire in 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 11, 2026

admin

International Living magazine has identified the five most affordable places to live or retire in 2026, which scored the highest in the cost-of-living category of its 2026 Global Retirement Index.

It evaluated retirement destinations across climate, healthcare, visa and lifestyle, along with cost.

Sri Lanka ranked top of the list due to affordable local transportation and easy-to-obtain retirement visas. A couple can live extravagantly on $2,200 (£1,637) a month, or on $1,000 (£744) with some budgeting.

In second place is Vietnam, with the average cost of living in Hanoi sitting at under $1,800 (£1,339) per month. Rent is low and healthcare is affordable.

Thailand was ranked third, because a couple can live comfortably for around $2,000 (£1,488) a month in cities such as Chiang Mai or coastal towns such as Hua Hin. These both have affordable housing, and accessible services and transportation.

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