Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
Tuesday, 30 December 2025 03:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka’s active credit card base continued to expand through October 2025, while outstanding balances also recorded a modest increase, according to the latest data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
Total active credit cards rose to 2,133,417 by end-October, up 0.75% from 2,117,378 in September and up 6.2% from 2,008,456 in December 2024.
Growth was driven almost entirely by globally accepted cards, which increased 0.76% to 2,124,419 in October from 2,108,342 a month earlier and up 6.3% from 1,998,684 at end-2024.
Cards accepted only locally continued to decline, easing 0.42% to 8,998 in October from 9,036 in September and down 7.9% from 9,772 in December last year.
Outstanding credit card balances increased to Rs. 166.9 billion in October, up 0.72% compared to Rs. 165.7 billion in September and up 5.7% from Rs. 157.9 billion at end-2024.
Balances on globally accepted cards accounted for the bulk of exposure, rising to Rs. 129.1 billion in October from Rs. 128.2 billion in September and Rs. 123.1 billion in December 2024. Outstanding balances on locally accepted cards edged up marginally to Rs. 37.8 billion in October from Rs. 37.5 billion in September, compared to Rs. 34.8 billion at end-2024.
