Sri Lanka’s tourism earnings fell by 10% year-on-year to $ 2.06 billion during the first eight months of 2026, compared to $ 2.29 billion recorded during the corresponding period of 2025, according to Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data.

According to the latest CBSL figures, tourism earnings fell by about $ 228.9 million compared with the same period last year. 

Tourist arrivals also recorded a decline at a lower rate, where Sri Lanka welcomed 1,535,122 tourists between January and August 2026, compared with 1,566,523 arrivals during the corresponding period of 2025, representing a decrease of around 2%, according to CBSL. 

Meanwhile, according to the report by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), a total of 1,609,759 tourists arrived in the country between 1 January and 14 September, with an arrival of 74,637 during the first 14 days of September.