Sri Lanka welcomed a record number of foreign visitors in January, marking the highest tourist arrivals ever recorded in a single calendar month, according to data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

The authority reported that 277,327 tourists entered the country during the month, setting a new benchmark for the tourism sector. The figure represents an increase of nearly 10% compared to arrivals recorded in January last year (2025).

Daily arrivals also reached a historic peak during the month. The highest number of visitors in a single day was recorded on 15 January, when 10,483 tourists arrived in the country.

India emerged as the leading source market during the period, contributing 52,061 visitors. The United Kingdom followed with 29,540 arrivals, while Russia accounted for 27,134 tourists. Germany ranked fourth among source markets, with 17,776 visitors recorded in January.