Sri Lanka Welcomes Over 50,000 Tourists in December, Annual Arrivals Cross 2.15 Million

Sri Lanka recorded 50,222 international tourist arrivals in December so far, according to data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). India remained the island nation’s largest source market for the month, accounting for 10,453 visitors, or 21% of total arrivals. This was followed by Russia with 5,420 visitors, Germany with 4,822, the…

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Sri Lanka Set to Present Reform-Focused National Budget Amid IMF Commitments

Sri Lankan President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake will present the national budget on Friday, prioritising economic reforms aimed at meeting International Monetary Fund (IMF) targets that are key for securing additional financial support and boosting investor confidence. Dissanayake came to power late last year promising to tackle corruption and rebuild the economy, which…

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Sri Lanka Expands Contactless Card Payments Across Major Bus Routes

Sri Lanka has officially launched bank-issued credit and debit card payments for bus fares, marking a major step toward modernizing public transport. The system was introduced this morning (24) at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Center under the patronage of Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake. The rollout includes expressway routes connecting Makumbura with Matara, Galle, Badulla, and…

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Sri Lanka to Strengthen Public Service With Major Recruitment and New Employee Benefits

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced plans to rebuild the country’s weakened state administrative system by launching a large-scale recruitment drive and introducing new welfare measures for public sector employees. The announcement was made during the presentation of the 2026 Budget in Parliament. President Dissanayake noted that the public service has faced long-term challenges…

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