Sri Lanka, March 24 -- Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals recorded a notable slowdown in March, raising concerns over the sector's performance as both visitor numbers and earnings show signs of decline.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority weekly report, arrivals from March 1 to 22, 2026 totalled 136,089, a sharp drop compared to 229,298 recorded in March 2025. With only eight days remaining in the month, surpassing the 200,000 mark now appears unlikely.

India remained the leading source market, contributing 35,330 visitors and accounting for 26% of total arrivals, while the United Kingdom and Russia ranked second and third respectively.

Total tourist arrivals up to March 22, 2026 stood at 692,744, reflecting a slower gro...