Official reserves climb to 6-year peak at US$ 7.2 bn; Gold in reserves doubles

Sri Lanka's foreign reserve assets have risen to their highest levels since April 2020, supported by continuous record-high inflows from worker remittances, tourism, and exports.

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According to data available through February 2026, the country's foreign reserve assets reached US$ 7,284 million. This total includes a Chinese Yuan-denominated swap arrangement equivalent to roughly US$ 1.5 billion from the People’s Bank of China, which Sri Lanka entered into in 2021.

The current reserve levels mark a significant recovery milestone. The last time reserves were near this mark was at the end of April 2020, during the initial stages of the pandemic, when they stood at US$ 7,179.9 million. For context, before the pandemic began at the end of 2019, Sri Lanka's reserves were valued at US$ 7,638.5 million.

Another notable shift in the reserve composition is the near doubling of gold reserves, reflecting a broader change in global central bank behaviour. The value of gold in Sri Lanka’ total official reserves surged to US$ 200 million, up from US$ 109 million in January 2026.