Monday Apr 20, 2026
Monday Apr 20, 2026
Monday, 20 April 2026 05:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In an encouraging sign for the economy, workers’ remittances increased 17.5% year-on-year (YoY) to $ 814.8 million in March during the first full month of the ongoing Middle East war. This brings total remittances inflows during the first quarter 2026 to nearly $ 2.3 billion, up 26.5% from a year ago, according to the latest Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data.
The $ 814.8 million inflow in March 2026 is the second highest monthly inflow in history behind $ 879.09 million in December 2025, but above $ 812.73 million in December 2020, $ 751.13 million in January 2026, and $ 729.35 million in January 2018.
December and March record the highest remittances inflows as workers send more money to their families back home for the festive season.
The strong 1Q 2026 follows a historic performance in 2025, when full-year remittances climbed to $ 8.07 billion, a 23% increase from a year earlier and the highest annual inflow ever recorded.
The total exceeded the previous all-time high of $ 7.24 billion in 2016 by about 12%, firmly cementing remittances as Sri Lanka’s largest and most reliable source of foreign exchange during its ongoing post-crisis recovery.
During 2025, a total of 310,915 skilled and semi-skilled workers left the country for foreign employment, including 190,609 men and 120,036 women. While total departures declined by 1.2% YoY, remittance inflows increased sharply, highlighting improved earnings abroad and greater confidence in formal transfer mechanisms.
