5 percent to 141,878 in February 2014 from a year earlier, with India, Russia and China leading gains, the state tourism promotion office said. Late last year Sri Lanka suddenly reported higher tourist arrivals and revised upwards data from earlier months amid growing uncertainty about economic data in general.
Arrivals in the first two months of the year were up 28.5 percent to 288,453.
Visitors from South Asia rose 22.9 percent in February 2014 from a year earlier, with India up 21.5 percent to 17,534 and Maldives up 21.4 percent to 5,549.
Visitors from Western Europe rose 15.7 percent to 52,635 with UK up 5.2 percent to 14,316, Germany up 15 percent to 11,305, France up 28.6 percent to 10,617, Switzerland up 9.
3 percent to 2,244, Austria up 10.4 percent to 2,086 and Netherland up 13.2 percent to 2,066.
Visitors from East Asia rose 31.2 percent to 25,065 with China including Hong Kong up 63.9 percent to 10,319. Japan was up 6.6 percent to 3,350. Malaysia dropped 27.4 percent to 1,756 and Philippines dropped 35.5 percent to 708.
Eastern European tourists rose 55.5 percent to 22,927 with Russia surging 92 percent to 9,72