• Income earned on Jan 16 was over Rs.2.8Mn

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya 

Nearly Rs. 10 million revenue had been earned from more than 70,000 local and foreign tourists who visited national parks in Sri Lanka during the long weekend, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said.  

He said most of the tourists have visited the parks on January 16 and 23,342 local tourists and 425 foreign tourists visited the park on that day and the  income earned was Rs. 2,859,840. 

The minister said large number of tourists have visited the parks across the country during the long weekend, the Thai Pongal weekend and the Duruthu Poya day. He said 11,617 local and 423 foreign tourists have visited on the Thai Pongal day and received revenue of Rs. 1,840,500 while 16,175 local and 493 foreign tourist arrival were reported on Saturday (15) with an income of Rs. 2,381,340. 

Also, an income Rs. 2,250,140 was earned with the arrival of 18,747 local and 314 foreign tourists on the Duruthu Poya Day (17), the minister said.