Sri Lanka, June 22 -- The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) recently announced that 145,745 foreign tourists visited Sri Lanka in May 2026. This represents a 9.65% increase in arrivals compared to May 2025. According to the Ministry of Tourism, this is the highest number of tourist arrivals recorded for the month of May in the country's history.

However, despite the record-breaking arrivals, tourism earnings reported by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka show a divergence between currencies. In May 2026, tourism earnings were recorded at USD 155.7 million, reflecting a 5.11% decrease compared to the USD 164.1 million earned in May 2025.

Conversely, when calculated in Sri Lankan Rupees, tourism earnings saw an upward trend. Ear...