Sri Lanka’s external sector strengthens as overseas workers drive surge in remittances

In a year marked by cautious optimism, Sri Lanka’s external sector is quietly staging a comeback, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s July 2025 external sector report.

- By SANATH NANAYAKKARE

According to the latest data released by the Bank, the country’s financial interactions with the rest of the world, namely; exports, imports, tourism, remittances, and foreign investments are showing a mixed but promising picture.

Sri Lanka’s export earnings reached an all-time monthly high in July 2025, raking in USD 1.3 billion from goods alone. This surge was driven by strong global demand for Sri Lankan products, especially in textiles, tea, and rubber. Overall, total exports (goods and services) for the first seven months of the year hit USD 12 billion, a 6.7% increase from last year.