A glaring contradiction has emerged between Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister and his deputy over the country’s tourism revenue figures for the first half of 2025. While Minister Vijitha Herath claims earnings reached $3.7 billion, Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe insists the actual figure is only $1.7 billion based on Central Bank data. The conflicting statements have sparked public confusion and raised serious concerns about transparency and data accuracy in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
Tourism revenue figures have become a point of public contention after Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath and Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe issued sharply contrasting statements on the country’s earnings from the industry in the first six months of 2025.
Minister Herath, speaking at a recent ceremony, claimed that Sri Lanka earned $3.7 billion in tourism revenue between January and June and confidently projected a similar inflow for the second half of the year.
However, Deputy Minister Ranasinghe contradicted this figure in a separate media briefing, stating that Central Bank records reflect only $1.7 billion in earnings for the same period. He added that July’s numbers have yet to be calculated, but dismissed the likelihood of such a large revenue surge.
“I think based on the Central Bank data, we only have complete calculations up to the end of June,” Ranasinghe clarified. “The $1.7 billion is the official figure. Even if July’s revenue were added, we wouldn’t reach $3.7 billion. The Minister’s number appears significantly inflated.”
The discrepancy has led to growing public confusion and questions about accuracy and accountability in reporting national tourism statistics. With tourism identified as a key pillar of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, clarity on earnings is crucial for both policy planning and investor confidence.
Critics argue that such contradictory narratives from the same ministry undermine public trust and could damage Sri Lanka’s credibility in international markets. Accurate reporting is essential at a time when the country is heavily dependent on foreign exchange inflows and seeks to attract more tourists.
Calls are now mounting for the government to publish verified figures and establish a single source of truth to avoid further confusion. Until then, the debate over whether Sri Lanka’s tourism revenue is $3.7 billion or $1.7 billion remains unresolved.
