October 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has seen a notable surge in income from overseas remittances this year, with the latest figures indicating a steady upward trend in inflows from its global workforce—an encouraging sign for the country’s foreign exchange position.
According to newly released figures from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), the total amount received from Sri Lankan migrant workers in September 2025 reached USD 695.7 million. This reflects a sharp rise compared to the USD 555.6 million sent home during the same period in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of nearly 25 per cent.
When looking at the broader picture, remittances received during the first nine months of 2025 have amounted to USD 5.81 billion. This represents a significant improvement over the USD 4.84 billion recorded between January and September last year—a nearly 20 per cent growth in earnings from overseas labour.
These inflows, largely sent by Sri Lankans employed in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions, have long served as a financial lifeline for the island nation, particularly during times of economic uncertainty.
