Tourist arrivals exceed 60,000 in 16 days
During the first 16 days of this month Sri Lanka has welcomed 60,989 tourists and is expecting to end the month with 100,000 arrivals, the Government Information Department stated.
In January 2011, the total tourist arrivals amounted to 74,197 while in 2010 the number was 50,757. During the same period in 2009, arrivals were recorded as 38,468.
Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana has said that Sri Lanka has earned US$ 393,865 within a 16-day period through the online Electronic Travel Authorization process.
He has said that from the total arrivals, 21,000 have come with an online visa certificate.