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. Earnings rose from Rs. 49.1 billion to Rs. 50.6 billion, marking a 3.05% increase. This discrepancy is primarily attributed to the increase in the value of the US Dollar against the Rupee.

Regarding the overall performance for the year so far, the Central Bank further noted that total tourism earnings for the first five months of 2026 amounted to USD 1,360 million. This is an 11.9% decrease compared to the USD 1,543.1 million recorded during the same period in 2025.