Over 51,000 tourists from over 100 countries have visited the former war zone in the northern part of Sri Lanka since a three decade war ended in 2009, a top official said here on Wednesday.
According to government data, about 51,400 foreigners visited the northern province of the country in the last three years, said Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Addressing an international conference on defense matters titled "Towards Lasting Peace and Stability" organized by the Sri Lankan army, Rajapaksa noted numbers have grown in the last two years and they expect more visitors to the region later this year.
"More than 51,400 foreigners from over 100 countries have visited the north including nearly 31,500 this year alone. A considerable number were expatriates that returned to visit their relatives and see to their land. This is a testimony to the freedom that exists in this country," he said.
Rajapaksa insisted that the growth in visitors was due to increased security, stressing that military presence has been reduced since 2009 with 28 battalions being removed to the southern part of the country.
"Around 21,000 troops have also been moved out of the region since 2009," he emphasized, adding that military will continue to occupy the north for "strategic reasons".
