Colombo, Jan 3 (UiTV/IANS) – Last year ended on a good note for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector as the arrivals of international visitors to the country topped the 700,000 mark despite the ongoing economic and political crisis, local media reported on Tuesday.
According to official statistics, December saw a total of 91,961 tourists arriving in the island nation, recording the third-highest monthly arrivals in 2022, taking the total number of visitors last year to 719,978, reports Xinhua news agency.
Industry stakeholders said the Tourism Ministry expected to close the year with at least 800,000 tourists, for which several initiatives and promotional campaigns were carried out in potential source markets in the fourth quarter.
Based on the data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, India topped the list with 17 per cent of the total tourist arrivals.
Russia ranked second accounting for 13 per cent and Britain became the third largest source market with 12 per cent.
Sri Lanka to import eggs amid domestic price war

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday announced plans to import eggs in the wake of a “domestic price war”.
Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena told reporters that a proposal was put forward to the cabinet to import eggs, and the cabinet, which held a meeting on Monday, approved the proposal, reports Xinhua news agency.
Gunawardena said egg price is high at the market resulting in a shortage, and Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security Nalin Fernando has been given the approval for import.
In the meantime, Gunawardena said, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has also instructed the relevant authorities to take appropriate measures to control the prices.