Sri Lanka’s tourism sector reached a historic milestone yesterday as the country welcomed its 2,333,797th tourist for 2025, officially surpassing the previous all-time arrival record of 2,333,796 visitors set in 2018. The milestone carries added significance when viewed against recent tourism trends. In 2018, Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever tourist arrivals at 2,333,796, a record that stood for seven years.

The symbolic 2,333,797th visitors were Prof. Felix Beslin Pereira, Reena Fernandez, and Ann Cristina Pereira, a family from Thiruvananthapuram, India, who arrived on SriLankan Airlines flight UL 162. Their arrival was ceremoniously recognised at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), where Sri Lanka Tourism officials described the moment as both a personal celebration for the family and a collective triumph for the nation.

The achievement marks a decisive turning point for the industry, signalling not just recovery, but renewed growth and confidence in Sri Lanka as a leading destination in South Asia. In 2024, arrivals reached 2,053,465, reflecting a steady recovery from multiple crises. Surpassing both figures in 2025 underscores the resilience of the sector and its growing competitiveness in the regional tourism landscape.

Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath said the achievement symbolised the strength of the industry and the trust of global travellers. “This milestone is not just a number—it is a symbol of Sri Lanka’s resilience. Surpassing the 2018 record proves that our tourism industry is stronger than ever, thanks to the dedication of stakeholders and the trust of millions of visitors worldwide,” he said.

Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe noted that the record was achieved through collective effort, particularly during periods of adversity. He described tourism as the lifeblood of the country’s economy and culture, adding that the unity shown by hoteliers, guides, associations, and partners had enabled the sector to withstand challenges and build a sustainable future.

Parliament passed 26 Government Bills during the First Session of the Tenth Parliament in the one-year period from January 1 to December 31, 2025, according to official records.

The legislation covered a wide range of fiscal, governance, social welfare and regulatory reforms, including amendments to key revenue laws, labour protections and sector-specific statutes.

Among the Acts passed were the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Act No. 01 of 2025; Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No. 02 of 2025; and the Appropriation Act No. 03 of 2025. Parliament also approved amendments to the Value Added Tax Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Companies Act and the Bills of Exchange Act.

Fiscal and economic measures featured prominently, with the passage of the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Act No. 10 of 2025, the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act No. 11 of 2025, the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Act No. 24 of 2025, and the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2025.

Key regulatory and institutional reforms included the Proceeds of Crime Act No. 05 of 2025, the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act No. 17 of 2025, the National Audit (Amendment) Act No. 19 of 2025, and the National Building Research Institute Act No. 20 of 2025. Parliament also repealed the Foreign Loans Act through Act No. 06 of 2025 and the Presidents’ Entitlements Act through Act No. 18 of 2025.

Other measures enacted during the year included amendments to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, Samurdhi Act, Rubber Control Act and Personal Data Protection Act, as well as legislation giving effect to the Convention Against Doping in Sports.

The legislative programme for 2025 concluded with the passage of the second Appropriation Act No. 23 of 2025 and the Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Act No. 26 of 2025, rounding off a year of extensive parliamentary activity.

Sri Lanka is moving to substantially revise penalties imposed for marine pollution, with authorities acknowledging that the current maximum fine of Rs. 15 million under existing law is no longer an effective deterrent, the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said yesterday.

MEPA Chairman Samantha Gunasekera said proposals are being finalised to amend the Marine Pollution Prevention Act (MPPA), bringing Sri Lanka’s penalty framework in line with international standards where fines range from USD 150,000 to nearly USD 500,000, depending on the scale and impact of pollution incidents.

“The penalties presently available to us were introduced decades ago and do not reflect present-day environmental realities or international best practice,” Gunasekera said. “Serious polluters factor these fines into their operating costs. That has to change.”

Under the current legal framework, MEPA is empowered to prosecute ship-based and coastal pollution offences, including oil spills, discharge of harmful substances, ballast water violations and dumping of waste at sea. However, officials concede that low ceilings on fines and lengthy legal processes have weakened enforcement outcomes.

Gunasekera said the proposed amendments would not only increase financial penalties, but also strengthen provisions relating to environmental restitution, cost recovery for clean-up operations, and liability for repeat offenders, in keeping with international conventions such as MARPOL and regional enforcement models.

He was addressing a special awareness and capacity-building workshop for environmental journalists, organised by MEPA at its Narahenpita headquarters on December 29, aimed at enhancing media engagement in marine environmental protection.

Sri Lanka’s strategic location along one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes exposes it to heightened risks from oil spills, illegal discharges and marine debris, officials said, noting that even a single incident could cause long-term damage to fisheries, tourism and coastal livelihoods.

“A Rs. 15 million penalty does not correspond to the scale of economic loss or ecological destruction caused by major pollution incidents,” the MEPA Chairman said, adding that revised penalties would be benchmarked against international valuation of environmental damage.

MEPA General Manger Jagath Gunasekera also briefed journalists on the Authority’s current mandate and outlined key enforcement and monitoring initiatives planned for 2026, including enhanced ship surveillance, closer coordination with port and naval authorities, and expanded public awareness programmeme.Both officials stressed that media vigilance and public scrutiny are essential to ensuring compliance and accountability.

“Marine protection cannot be achieved through legislation alone,” the Chairman said. “An informed public, supported by responsible journalism, is one of our strongest safeguards.”

The workshop concluded with discussions on emerging threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystem and policy responses aligned with the country’s Blue Economy strategy.

By Ifham Nizam ✍️