Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Vijitha Herath told Parliament today (09) that Sri Lanka’s tourism revenues have not declined, but that more accurate figures are now being reported due to the adoption of internationally accepted scientific survey methods.
Responding to questions raised by MP Ravi Karunanayake under Standing Order 27(2), the Minister explained that earlier survey techniques relied on limited samples which artificially inflated revenue figures, whereas the current methodology reveals the real spending patterns of foreign visitors.
He stressed that tourists’ spending habits in Sri Lanka have not changed significantly, and what has occurred is simply the correction of previously flawed data.
Karunanayake, raising a supplementary question, pointed out that credit card payments made by tourists often bypass the Central Bank’s LankaPay system and flow abroad through external gateways, resulting in a 2.5% loss of foreign exchange.
Minister Herath acknowledged that no mechanism had been in place to address this issue for years, even under past administrations. He noted that the present government has already introduced a tax framework through the budget to collect dues from international digital platforms and payment applications.
He emphasized that while some portion of tourist spending inevitably flows out of the country, a formal system is needed to retain maximum revenue. Legal provisions and technical measures are being introduced rapidly, with integration into LankaPay identified as a key step.
Herath concluded that the government is directly intervening to ensure both constitutional and technological safeguards are in place, underscoring its commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s tourism revenue streams. (Newswire)
