Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga says that National Botanic Gardens has earned an income of nearly Rs. 10 mn from local and foreign tourists who visited National Botanic Gardens during the recent long weekend.

The Minister said that due to the long weekend, a large number of tourists had come to visit the National Botanic Gardens on the 16^th January. A total number of 23,342 local tourists and 425 foreign tourists had visited the botanic gardens on that day alone and an income of Rs. 2,859,840 was earned.

The Minister further stated that a total number of 11,617 local tourists and 423 foreign tourists had visited the botanic gardens on the 14^th Friday of the Thaipongal holiday, generating an income of Rs. 1,840,500. A total number of 16,175 local tourists and 493 foreign tourists had visited the botanic gardens on Saturday the 15^th, January, generating an income of Rs. 2,381,340 on that day. A total number of 18,747 local tourists and 314 foreign tourists had visited the botanic gardens on Duruthu Poya Day, generating an income of Rs 2,250,140 on that day.