Prices of flights and hotel bookings to Colombo, Sri Lanka, have soared as thousands of fans flock to the city to watch India play Pakistan on Sunday in cricket's Twenty20 World Cup. Tourism is the third largest foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka, famous for its ancient temples, pristine beaches, and lush tea plantations. Buddhika Hewawasam, chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, told Reuters that in the first 10 days of February, roughly 20% of the 100,000 visitors to Sri Lanka were there for the India-Pakistan cricket match. "This is clearly showing confidence in Sri Lanka as a neutral cricket venue. Lahore local Mian Sultan is looking forward to his trip to Sri Lanka to watch the game.

Source: The Telegraph February 14, 2026 06:13 UTC