Tourist arrivals top 1.3 m, but July set to miss monthly goal
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has crossed the 1.3 million mark in arrivals for 2025, reflecting a steady year-on-year (YoY) growth,
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Tourist arrivals in July top 145,000
A total of 145,188 tourists have arrived in the country thus far in July, data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) shows.
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Temporary driving licenses for tourists to be issued at BIA
The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has announced that a new system for issuing temporary driving licenses to tourists arriving in Sri Lanka
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3M tourism target 2025: SL falls behind
Sri Lanka’s target of attracting 3 million tourists in 2025 is facing significant challenges, with the latest figures pointing to a considerable shortfall. According to official data, a total of 1,247,815 tourists had visited the country by July 13, representing just 41.6% of the annual target. Between July 1 and 13, Sri Lanka welcomed 79,771 foreign visitors, a mere 0.9% …
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SL Customs seize biggest gold smuggling ever
A 32-year-old passenger who attempted to smuggle the largest quantity of gold ever into the country was apprehended by Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday, July 15, 2025. Customs officers discovered the entire gold weighing over 35 kilograms, valued at more than Rs. 1.1 billion. It included 195 gold biscuits and approximately 13 kilograms of gold …
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Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka top 75,000 in July 2025
A total of 79,711 tourists have arrived in the country thus far in July, data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) shows.
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Ritz-Carlton Reserve Heads to Pottuvil,Sri Lanka
Ventive Hospitality and Marriott International have announced plans to open seven new hotels across India and Sri Lanka, including a high-end Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Pottuvil on Sri Lanka’s east coast. The Pottuvil project stands out as Sri Lanka’s only Ritz-Carlton Reserve, featuring 73 luxury villas and 80 branded residences. Positioned near Yala East National Park and Arugam Bay, the resort …
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Sri Lanka Revives Tourist VAT Refund Scheme to Boost Spending and Formal Retail Growth
NEWS OF THE DAY
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Sri Lanka Welcomed Over 116,000 Tourists in June
Sri Lanka recorded a significant influx of foreign tourists in June, with 116,469 arrivals reported during the first 26 days of the month.
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Sri Lanka historic Nuwara Eliya building to be developed for tourism as post office
Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal to promote tourism activities at a colonial-era building in Nuwara Eliya, keeping the post office in operation, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.
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