Thursday Feb 19, 2026
Thursday Feb 19, 2026
Monday, 16 February 2026 03:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attended the India-Pakistan ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match yesterday. He was joined in the VIP box by ICC Chairman Jay Shah, Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha
Pic by Kushan Pathiraja
Sri Lanka witnessed a spike in private jet arrivals over the weekend as high-net-worth cricket fans and VIPs flew in for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan T20 World Cup encounter in Colombo.
“We have accommodated around 15 private jets, mostly from India,” Bandaranaike International Airport Head of Airport Management Aruna Rajapaksa said, noting the surge began on Saturday night ahead of the marquee fixture at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. Private jets are a rarity for Sri Lanka.
Hoteliers also confirmed that city hotels were fully booked in the lead-up to the game, with spillover demand extending to Mount Lavinia and Negombo. Industry representatives said the cricket tournament has driven a notable uptick in short-term travel, particularly from regional markets.
Tourism data for the first 12 days of February reflects the momentum. India emerged as the leading source market during the period, accounting for 18,819 visitors or 15% of total arrivals. The UK followed with 14,513 arrivals, while Germany contributed 10,556, Russia 9,815, and China 8,306 visitors. France, Australia, Poland, the US, and the Netherlands were also among the key markets.
On a cumulative basis, India continues to dominate year-to-date arrivals with 70,880 visitors, followed by the UK with 44,053, and Russia with 36,949, reinforcing the strong regional and European interest in Sri Lanka’s tourism offering amid the ongoing tournament.
