The Sri Lankan government is according priority to repairing the A-9 highway that connects capital Colombo to the northern region.

'The A-9 highway would be repaired within the next three months. It would provide easy road access to the tourists.

'Besides that, we are also going to increase the number of flights to Jaffna from three to six per week. We are also going to introduce a ferry service from Colombo to the north so that the tourists can enjoy the sea route. It would be a beautiful experience as tourists would spend an entire day on the ferry.'

Another official, requesting anonymity, said: 'Our worry now is that by next year when tourists begun arriving here in large numbers, we may not have enough rooms to meet the demand. We are working in tandem with the private sector so that right from budget tourists to the high networth individuals, everyone gets accommodation during their Sri Lanka visit.'