Sri Lanka has surpassed 1.4 million international tourist arrivals in 2026, reaching 1,408,620 visitors by 9 August, according to figures from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

The country welcomed 65,202 tourists during the first nine days of August alone. India continued to lead arrivals during this period with 13,483 visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with 7,460 and France with 5,388.

India also remains Sri Lanka's largest source market for the year so far, contributing 351,713 tourists. The United Kingdom follows with 137,861 arrivals, while China has contributed 92,940 visitors.

February remains the strongest month of 2026 so far, recording 279,328 tourist arrivals.

Crossing the 1.4 million mark within the first eight months of the year represents an important milestone for Sri Lanka's tourism sector. Continued growth from major regional and long-haul markets could create further opportunities for hotels, tour operators, transport providers and other tourism businesses as the country moves toward the next peak travel season.