Sri Lanka's tourism sector recorded a strong performance in the first quarter of 2026, with total arrivals surpassing 730,000 by March 29, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). For the full month of March, the country welcomed 183,979 visitors. This builds on earlier figures, which reported 175,661 arrivals by March 31 in one instance, and 151,693 by March 25. India remained the leading source market for March, contributing 47,533 tourists, representing 26% of the total. Other significant contributors for March included:
- United Kingdom: 18,092
- Russia: 15,685
- China: 14,064
- Germany: 13,429
- Australia: 11,197
Cumulatively, from January 1 to March 29, 2026, India led with 145,390 arrivals, followed by the United Kingdom with 77,358, and Russia with 65,812 visitors.