China has finally dethroned India as Sri Lanka
  

Overall tourist arrivals in February reached a record with 197,697 up by 19.4% bringing the haul in the first two months of 2016 to 321,787, up by 22% In January tourist arrivals grew by 24% to 194,280.Western Europe continued its dominance as the biggest region with arrivals amounting to 73,533 up by 21% in February and to 137,223 for the first two months, up by 22.3%. UK produced 19,194 tourists in February, up by 26.2% followed by Germany 14,426 up by 10.5%. All markets in Western Europe produced double digit growth in January in comparison to a year earlier.

East Asia came in second owing to Chinese arrivals with a growth of 11.3% to 46,632 Russia saw a marginal growth of 2.5% to 6958 compared to a long period of negative growth. This followed by South Asia up 24.8% to 36,216. Eastern Europe brought in 21,745 tourists, up by 25% while Ukrainian travellers amidst its internal conflicts within the country have travelled to Sri Lanka recording a 133.2% growth to 4,261. Arrivals from the Middle East saw 4.8% growth to 4,896, however the region saw a decrease of arrivals from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and Oman while only Israel showed growth.

Total arrivals and revenue hit record high of 1.79 million in 2015 up by 18%, while earnings from tourism increased to $ 2.86 billion compared to $ 2.43 billion in 2014. The Government has targeted 2.2 million visitors this year.

The government will conduct fresh probes into the scams involved in the import of a stock of biofertilizer from China and in the introduction of organic farming during the time of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a minister said yesterday.

Cabinet spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today that the people will know whether the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MPs had sought assistance from the President’s Fund as claimed by SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara when the rest of the list is released soon.

The circular issued by the Western Province Education Zonal Ministry prohibiting private tutoring classes for students by school teachers, along with the letter issued by the Education Ministry regarding modulators, has been withdrawn, Parliamentarian Mahinda Jayasinghe said.

Adding further controversy to the misuse of the President’s Fund, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday said some of JVP members also sought assistance from the President’s funds prior to 2010.

In response to queries about the potential introduction of new taxes on imported vehicles, Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayathissa said today that the Finance Ministry will make an official announcement regarding taxes in the future.

In response to widespread concerns regarding the alleged presence of Israeli soldier Gal Ferenbook in Colombo, police said that they have not received any verified information on the matter.

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is set to add one of its overhauled and upgraded Kfir multirole combat aircraft to its fleet within the first three months of next year, the Daily Mirror learns.

The tri-forces security provided to former Presidents will be removed from today as announced by Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala. The Defence Ministry said instructions regarding the matter have been issued to the Commanders of the tri-forces. The Defence Ministry said only police security will be assigned for the security of former Presidents.

The Ministry of Education announced that the second stage of the third term for the 2024 academic year in all government and government-approved private schools will commence on January 2, 2025. The term is set to run for three weeks, concluding on January 24, 2025.

A female student and another woman were killed after being struck by an express train at the Anuradhapura New Town Railway Station. The victims were part of a group from Ratnapura attending a taekwondo tournament at the Anuradhapura Public Ground.