Arrivals from Western Europe, the top generating region rose 10 percent to 27,531, and was up 12.1 percent to 156,658, the tourism promotion office said.
Visitors from Britain rose 2.7 percent to 8,233, Germany rose 8.3 percent to 8,233, France rose 6.8 percent to 4,842, The Netherlands rose 14.1 percent to 1,619.
Visitors from Eastern Europe rose 34.5 percent with Russia rising 32.5 percent to 2,528 and Ukraine rising 50 percent to 1,518.
Middle Eastern visitors fell 14.2 percent to 3,268 in April, but year-to-date arrivals were still up 0.7 percent to 15,023.
Sri Lanka has seen a rise in Buddhist nationalist action against Muslims with their dress, shops and food labeling being targeted, which analysts say may discourage tourism, though no tourist have been targeted.
Middle East is an important source of visitors in the middle of the year, when arrivals from Western Europe slacken.
East Asian arrivals rose 34.2 percent to 12,012 with China surging 98.5 percent to 2,971. In the first four months Chinese visitors were up 65.8 percent to 11,324, displacing Japan to second place with 9,635.
Japanese visitors also rose 41.9 percent to 2,396. Visitors from Singapore fell 34.7 percent to 818 in April.
Visitors from Malaysia rose 21.7 percent to 1,499 and Korea was up 59 percent to 672.
Thailand fell 20.3 percent to 652.
Visitors from South Asia rose 9.7 percent to 22,531 helped by an 82 percent surge in visitors from Maldives to 5,542. Visitors from Pakistan rose 53 percent to 2,030.
Indian, Sri Lanka's largest generating market fell 7.1 percent to 14,333. So far this year Indian visitors were down 5.2 percent to 52,892.
Growth in Indian arrivals had been weak over the past year but started to plunge this year after flights from South India were cut amid action against Sri Lankan pilgrims by Tamil nationalists.
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/news/tourist-arrivals-to-sri-lanka-up-14.7-pct-in-april/163089959