April 23, Colombo (LNW): Foreign currency inflows from Sri Lankans employed abroad have shown a notable upswing at the start of this year, with earnings from migrant workers rising sharply compared with the same period in 2025.
Figures released by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, drawing on data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, indicate that the country received approximately US$ 2.294 billion in remittances during the first quarter of 2026. This represents an increase of around 26.5 per cent year-on-year.
Monthly inflows remained consistently strong throughout the period, with January recording just over US$ 750 million, followed by slightly lower earnings in February before climbing again in March to exceed US$ 800 million. Officials suggest the upward movement reflects both improved overseas employment opportunities and greater financial transfers from workers supporting families back home.
By contrast, remittance earnings for the corresponding months in 2025 stood at about US$ 1.815 billion, highlighting the scale of this year’s growth in foreign income.
Alongside the financial inflows, labour migration has also remained active. Authorities report that more than 62,000 Sri Lankans departed for overseas employment between January and the end of March 2026, underscoring the continued reliance on foreign job markets as a key source of household income and national foreign exchange stability.