A Trivandrum Family’s Surprise In Sri Lanka

A Trivandrum Family was surprised at the Colombo Airport, as Sri Lanka this week marked a major milestone in its tourism sector.

Accordingly, Tourism officials warmly welcomed the 2,333,797th tourist, surpassing the previous record of 2,333,796 arrivals achieved in 2018.

Felix Beslin Pereira, his wife, Reena Fernandez, and daughter Ann Cristina Pereira, a family from Thiruvananthapuram became part of this historic occasion marked at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake.

Felix became the 2,333,797th tourist to the country.

“We are very happy that we got the opportunity to be part of this moment. It was a complete surprise,” said Felix Beslin Pereira, who became the symbolic record-breaking tourist.

Echoing his sentiments, his wife Reena Fernandez said,
“From the moment we arrived from Trivandrum, we noticed that officials were behaving differently. We were surprised by the special treatment.”

Their daughter, Ann Cristina Pereira, added, “I am very excited. I always wanted to visit this country.”

The family landed in the Island with the National Carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines.

India continues to be the largest source market for Sri Lanka, contributing the highest number of tourists from a single country.

Collectively, the UK and European nations, which bring tourists for the long-haul accounts for the second-highest number of arrivals.

“This milestone is not just a number—it is a symbol of Sri Lanka’s resilience,” said Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath.

“Surpassing the 2018 record proves that our tourism industry is stronger than ever, thanks to the dedication of all stakeholders and the trust of millions of visitors worldwide,” he added.

Tourist arrivals are also strong from Russia, China, and Australia, while there is a growing trend of travelers from the United States choosing Sri Lanka as a preferred destination.