Notable
Scan, pay, stay: WeChat app is rewriting Sri Lanka’s tourism playbook
The visitor numbers obscure how serious this is.
The introduction of this system, in collaboration with LankaPay, will increase payment options for Indian travellers
Gaming is promoted in Sri Lanka to target high-end tourists
Kite festival will bring 80 foreign kite flyers from 30 countries and over 1,500 local participants.
Cinnamon Box Office, a ticketing and event platform, and Cinnamon Nature Trails with focus on diving
The government has aimed at 3 million arrival and $5 billion revenue for 2025
European Union ambassador Carmen Moreno to feature on panel
Initially targets families on income support
198,235 visitors in August
International kite enthusiasts from 25 countries to participate in the Colombo festival in 2025
Sri Lanka has aimed at 3 million arrival, US$5bn revenue targets for 2025
Tourist arrivals from Israel were 1,966 in July 2025, compared to 573 in the previous month.
Tourists with a valid driving license, can now obtain a a short term license to drive in Sri Lanka
The resort has a Cinnamon and Nuwa hotel, Melco casino, apartments, mall, conference, banqueting space and restaurants
| Latest | Last | |
|---|---|---|
| US Dollar | 332.3603 | 330.8514 |
| UK Pound | 440.9424 | 438.3450 |
| Euro | 368.4879 | 371.0168 |
| Yen | 2.0805 | 2.0916 |
| Aus Dollar | 227.4342 | 231.1659 |
| Latest | Last | |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Rupee | 3.5474 | 3.4202 |
| Korean Won | 0.2492 | 0.2479 |
| Oman Rial | 863.2287 | 859.3320 |
| Saudi Riyal | 88.5586 | 88.0955 |
| UAE Dirham | 90.4874 | 90.0766 |
| pts | % | |
|---|---|---|
| S&P SL20 | 6,365.57 | +0.26% |
| CSE All Share | 22,157.40 | +0.56% |
| Turnover Rs | 2975.05 million | 1193.67 million |
| Latest | Last | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-m bill | 7.61 | 7.84 |
| 6-m bill | 7.91 | 8.26 |
| 12-m bill | 8.23 | 8.3 |
| 3-yr bond | 9.24 | 9.25 |
| 5-yr bond | 9.82 | 9.56 |
| 8-yr bond | 10.50 | 10.48 |
| today | yesterday | |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight Money | 7.70 | 7.69 |
| Gilt Repo | 7.74 | 7.72 |
| I-m SLIBOR | - | - |
Total foreign visitors for this year are 1,368,288.
The visa facility is in effect from July 2025.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is to make state visit to the Maldives next week.
Treasury to lose $66mn in visa fees
Sri Lanka has aimed $5 billion revenue, 3 million arrival targets this year.
20 toilets at tourist areas such as Nine arch bridge, Ella, Mt Lavinia railway station, and Jaffna Kurikadduwan Jetty
Most visitors from India, with visitors from Pakistan and Bangladesh increasing
Changes following concept paper developed by expert committee
Sri Lanka has aimed for record tourist arrival, revenue targets this year
Total visitors so far this year are 1,104,373.
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