Thursday Feb 26, 2026
Thursday Feb 26, 2026
Tuesday, 17 February 2026 03:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka registered nearly 40,000 tourist arrivals over the weekend as fans flocked to Colombo for the most-anticipated India-Pakistan T20 World Cup encounter, with 15 private jets touching down to accommodate high-net-worth profiles.
Arrivals reached 11,201 on Friday, peaked at 12,565 on Saturday, and eased slightly to 11,113 on Sunday following the marquee fixture at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
The surge has pushed total arrivals for the first 15 days of February to 159,339, marking a 19% year-on-year (YoY) increase. Year-to-date (YTD) arrivals climbed to 436,666 visitors, reflecting a 13% growth compared to the same period last year.
The daily average arrivals figure has risen sharply from 8,924 to 10,623, underscoring the strong momentum generated by the ongoing tournament. While 70,355 tourists were recorded during the first week of the month, the second week saw a significant jump to 77,831 arrivals, largely driven by cricket-related travel. Arrivals moderated to 11,113 on Sunday after Saturday’s blockbuster match.
Bandaranaike International Airport Head of Airport Management Aruna Rajapaksa confirmed the spike in private aviation traffic. “We have accommodated around 15 private jets, mostly from India,” he told the Daily FT, noting that the surge began on Saturday night ahead of the match.
Private jet arrivals remain relatively rare for Sri Lanka, highlighting the scale and profile of the event.
Hoteliers confirmed full occupancy across Colombo, with strong spillover demand extending to properties in Mount Lavinia and Negombo. Industry representatives said the cricket fever has provided a significant boost to short-term travel, particularly from regional markets.
India emerged as the leading source market for the month to date, accounting for 26,096 visitors or 16% of total arrivals between 1 and 15 February. The UK followed with 17,807 arrivals, while Russia contributed 12,607, Germany 12,309, and China 11,560 visitors. France, Poland, Australia, the US, and the Netherlands were also among the key markets.
On a cumulative basis, India remains the top source market YTD with 78,157 visitors, followed by the UK with 47,347 and Russia with 39,741.
Industry stakeholders expect the positive momentum to continue in the coming days as cricket enthusiasts travel to Colombo, reinforcing the growing role of sports tourism as a catalyst for short-term demand growth and high-value visitor inflows.
