External sector holds steady in May as remittances continue to do heavy lifting

Sri Lanka's external sector continued to show signs of stabilisation in May 2025, with a current account surplus marking five straight months of gains.

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The trend was driven largely by worker remittances and steady tourism earnings, even as the trade deficit widened year-on-year.

Data released by the Central Bank on Monday showed remittance inflows climbing 17.9 percent in May from a year earlier, bringing total earnings from overseas workers to US$ 3.1 billion for the first five months of the year. The consistent inflow provided a critical buffer to the expanding trade gap, underlining the economy's continued reliance on external income sources to manage balance of payments pressures.