India leads tourism charts

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has recorded a robust start to the year, with 223,645 international visitors arriving in the first twenty-five days of January.

Latest figures from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) reveal that India remains the primary driver of the island’s tourism recovery, accounting for 41,603 arrivals—roughly 19 per cent of the total. The surge in visitors reflects a steady momentum following a record-breaking 2025, which saw over 2.3 million foreign nationals visit the country, the highest annual total in its history.

While the current figures are strong, they remain slightly behind the 252,761 arrivals recorded during the full month of January last year. However, industry analysts note that the mid-month peak on 15 January—which saw 10,483 arrivals in a single day—suggests that interest in the destination remains high during the peak winter season.

Top source markets for January 2026

• India: 41,603 (19.0%)


• United Kingdom: 23,329


• Russia: 22,876


• Germany: 14,431


• France: 10,746