Rebuilding together: Sangakkara issues global plea for Sri Lanka tourism

December 18, 2025 at 2:11 AM

Cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara on Wednesday urged international travelers to return to Sri Lanka, framing tourism as a vital engine for the island’s recovery following its worst flooding in decades.

In a video message shared across social media, the former national captain addressed the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which struck in late November. The storm triggered widespread landslides and flooding that affected 2.2 million people across all 25 districts and left more than 600 dead or missing.

“To everyone abroad who’s thinking ‘Should I visit Sri Lanka?’ Let me assure you that Sri Lanka is open, safe and ready to welcome you,” Sangakkara said. “When you visit, you support local communities and help our country move forward.”

While the government declared a nationwide State of Emergency on Nov. 29, tourism officials say the country is returning to normalcy. Essential services, including international airports and major roadways, are fully operational. Most cultural sites, such as the Sigiriya rock fortress and the southern coastal beaches, were minimally impacted or have already reopened to visitors.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported that the cyclone inundated nearly 20% of the country’s land area and damaged over 100,000 homes. Economic analysts estimate the preliminary damage to infrastructure and livelihoods exceeds USD 5 Billion

Industry leaders emphasized that the winter peak season remains critical for the economy, which relies heavily on tourism for foreign exchange.

“Our spirit hasn’t changed,” Sangakkara said in his appeal. “That resilience, that quiet strength is who we are… together we will rebuild.”

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau confirmed this week that over 70,000 tourists arrived in the first half of December, signaling continued traveler confidence despite the recent disaster. (Newswire)