Tourists get driving license in 5 minutes at Air Port
Sri Lanka has established a new branch office of the Department of Motor Traffic in the Arrivals Terminal of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, offering foreign tourists the convenience of obtaining a valid driving license within a mere five minutes. This new facility was officially opened under the patronage of the Minister of Transport, Highways and Civil Aviation, Bimal …
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Sri Lanka earned $3.7 bln from tourist arrivals in six months – Foreign Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated that an income of $3.7 billion has been generated from tourist arrivals over the past six months.
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City of Dreams casino and luxury hotels to boost Sri Lanka’s tourism game
Sri Lanka’s City of Dreams integrated resort, built by John Keells Holdings, with a casino and Nuwa hotel by its partner Melco Resorts and Entertainment,
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City of dreams: Doors open today
The City of Dreams Sri Lanka, the country’s first large-scale integrated resort, officially opened to the public today. The opening marks a major step forward for Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality industry. Located in central Colombo, the resort includes a luxury 687-room hotel, shopping and dining areas, apartments, offices, and a casino. The project was developed by John Keells Holdings …
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Kandy Esala Perahera 2025: Timetable and Key Dates
The much-awaited Kandy Esala Perahera begins today, July 30, 2025. The grand procession will continue daily until August 8, 2025. The festival will conclude with the traditional Diyakepuma ceremony on August 9, 2025. This schedule marks the official timeline for one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most celebrated Buddhist festivals, drawing thousands of devotees and tourists from across the globe. …
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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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