COLOMBO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has been ranked eighth around the world in a global study on the places where Valentine's Day is most popular, local media reports said here Thursday.

"Chef's Pencil" which is a globally popular online cookbook said Sri Lanka was home to the widely popular love cake and the island country celebrated the Valentine's Day by spending on parties, gifts, dinners, images and cards, written in many languages.

"We were not the first to think of this funny association as the Sri Lankan government launched a marketing campaign to promote the love cake and Sri Lankan cuisine during last year's Valentine's Day," the global survey said.

The love cake, which was created in Sri Lanka, is a popular dry cake made by local chefs consisting of fruits, nuts, flavours and essences.

The cake has over the centuries, become a popular local culture, becoming an integral part of Sri Lanka's culinary identity.

Several star-classed hotels and restaurants and fast food chains in Sri Lanka, on Thursday, offered attractive packages for couples and families to spend on their Valentine's Day dinner.

Florists said they also saw a boom in flower sales, compared to previous years.