July 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka witnessed a notable rise in remittances from citizens working abroad, with foreign inflows reaching US$ 635.7 million in June 2025 alone.
This marks a substantial 22 per cent increase compared to the same month in the previous year, according to figures published by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
From January through June this year, the total amount sent home by Sri Lankan migrant workers climbed to US$ 3.7 billion. This represents an 18.9 per cent year-on-year growth, reflecting a steady upward trend in foreign currency earnings through worker remittances.
These transfers remain a critical pillar of the nation’s external income, helping to stabilise the economy amid ongoing fiscal challenges.
For the entirety of 2024, remittances totalled US$ 6.57 billion, highlighting the consistent and vital contribution of Sri Lanka’s overseas workforce. The country’s labour migration continues at a significant pace, with 312,836 individuals officially recorded as having left Sri Lanka for employment opportunities abroad in 2024.
Officials attribute the rise in remittance flows to a combination of policy incentives, improved transfer mechanisms, and a gradual recovery in global labour markets, particularly in the Middle East and parts of Europe.
