Extending the growth momentum, the international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka crossed the 50,000 mark during the first nine days of April. The provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority showed that for the first nine days of April, the island nation welcomed a total of 50,537. This brings the cumulative arrivals for the January 1 to March 9 period to 686,321.

When compared with the same period, last year, the inflow of international visitors has expanded by above 45 percent in the nine-day period.

The daily average improved to around 5615 in the month, from around 3844 from a year ago. Sri Lanka is targeting between 168,539 and 182,724 tourist arrivals for April, which requires a daily average between 5617 and 6090, to achieve this target. The current arrival trend shows that Sri Lanka could reach the lower bound of the arrival target for the month.

Meanwhile, India topped the list as the largest tourist traffic generator, accounting for 19 percent of the total arrivals in the month.

The UK overtook Russia as the second largest tourist traffic generator in the month, contributing to 13 percent of the tourist arrivals. With the recent update to travel advisory on Sri Lanka by the UK authorities, Sri Lanka expects a higher number of tourist arrivals from the UK.

Russia was the close third, bringing in 10 percent of the total number of international visitors. Germany, France, Australia and China occupied the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh positions in the rankings.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the Jaffna Hospital would be upgraded as a national hospital in the near future to enhance and ensure excellent healthcare standards in the Northern Province.

State Defence Minister Pramith Bandara Tennakoon yesterday said six deaths and 11 injuries have been reported as a result of tree from May 19 and the adverse weather condition has affected 34,880 people of 9,616 families in 18 districts.

Sri Lanka Customs have raided 13 leading jewellery-making institutions and seized a stock of gold smuggled into the country and a fine of Rs. 4.5 billion is to be imposed in this regard, the Daily Mirror learns.

It is reported that former President Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was in Bali when President Ranil Wickramasinghe visited Indonesia earlier in May for the World Water Forum, ‘Lanka Truth’ reports.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of confirming land rights for the people, ensuring pathways for progress. He highlighted Sri Lanka’s unique position as the only South Asian nation offering free land rights to its citizens.

The Rabies control program of the Ministry of Health (MoH) states that an islandwide census of the dog population in the country, will be conducted within the next two months.This census is done in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the related basic project proposal has been prepared and finalised for implementation.

A veterinary surgeon whose love of cooking is inspired by his Sri Lankan heritage has been crowned the 20th winner of BBC TV's Masterchef.

A day after four ISIS terrorists were arrested in Ahmedabad, India, Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) arrested a suspect in Colombo connected to those arrested in India.

A snap general election will follow immediately after the presidential elections to be concluded in October, this year, the Daily Mirror learns.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has today granted special leave to appeal in a high-profile bribery case against former Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake.

A total of 1,289 naval personnel who were absent without leave (AWL) have been legally discharged during the General Amnesty period from April 20 to May 20, 2024.

A British Sri Lankan, Veterinary surgeon, Brin Pirathapan, has claimed the prestigious title of MasterChef Champion 2024, triumphing at the end of the 20th series of TV’s biggest cooking competition. Brin was awarded the coveted MasterChef trophy by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace on BBC One.

The Examinations Department today announced the date of the holding of the Grade Five Scholarship Examination for 2024. Examinations Commissioner General H.J.M.C. Amith Jayasundara said the Scholarship Examination will be held on September 15 (Sunday).

Two days after arresting four Sri Lankan nationals suspected to be ISIS operatives, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Wednesday said that all the accused have been previously booked in gold and drug smuggling cases.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has reported over 36,900 breakdowns resulting in power interruptions to more than 300,000 consumers in the last three days due to the inclement weather, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijsekara said today.

A number of leading NGOs funded by various foreign sources for projects such as gender rights, human rights and democratic governance have been registered only as guaranteed companies under the registrar of Companies leaving the National NGO Secretariat in the lurch in having a check on their expenses and activities, a top source said.

Sri Lankan detectives have uncovered that one of the four Sri Lankans with suspected links to ISIS who was arrested in Indian earlier this week, is the son of a notorious underworld don. The four suspects arrested by Indian detectives are:

Despite speculations that a General Election will precede a Presidential election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the Cabinet today that the Presidential election will be held first this year.

Former Army Commander, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, has decided to contest for Presidency at the upcoming Presidential election, the Daily Mirror learns.

The Sri Lankan Parliament observed one minute's silence for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and others who were killed in a helicopter crash recently. Observing of a minute's silence was proposed by Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga.