Worker remittances continued their upward trend in May, providing a further boost to foreign exchange inflows and supporting the country’s external sector.
According to the Central Bank, remittances sent home by migrant workers totalled USD 847 million in May 2026.
The latest data indicates the continued importance of overseas workers in supporting the economy through foreign currency earnings.
Strong Growth During First Five Months
The Central Bank also reported that total worker remittances received between January and May 2026 reached USD 3.90 billion.
This represents a 26% increase compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
The rise suggests that remittance inflows have remained resilient despite ongoing economic uncertainties in several global markets.
Worker remittances are one of the country’s largest sources of foreign exchange and play a key role in supporting foreign reserves, financing imports, and stabilising external accounts.
Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL)
Last modified: June 9, 2026
