Tourists will return if the political crisis is resolved, says Kuoni

Frances Harrison BBC correspondent in Colombo

But Kuoni Travel said business could quickly bounce back if the situation is resolved.

The firm added Sri Lanka has seen a huge 30% rise in the number of visitors from the UK this year.

Kuoni added Sri Lanka was now its third most popular destination after Thailand and the Maldives.

Chairman Peter Diethelm said the political crisis in Sri Lanka could be very unsettling for tourism if it continued.

'Wait-and-see'

He added that each week the company could lose hundreds of bookings.

But if there was clarity about the situation, the country's tourism industry could recover quickly, Mr Diethelm said.

Kuoni Travel said British tourists are currently adopting a wait-and-see approach, with very few cancelling their bookings.

Kuoni Travel said Sri Lanka had become its top wedding destination in the world, and its second honeymoon holiday spot - with 80% of its customers staying at three and four-star hotels.

Managing director Sue Biggs added that the most important factor in promoting Sri Lankan tourism would be political stability, followed by value for money and better infrastructure.