Sri Lanka worker remittances up 18.9-pct to US$767.9mn in April 2026

Sri Lanka’s official remittances rose 18.9 percent to US$767.9 million in April 2026 with the rising trend continued from 2024, central bank data showed. 

The April inflows from the foreign workers come amid escalation in the Middle East, the largest foreign job market for Sri Lankans.

The inflows from Sri Lankan workers abroad rose 24.5 percent to US$3,062.8 million in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. 

The island nation saw a record monthly remittance in December last year and historically high annual high worker remittances of US$ 8,076.2 million in 2025.

Higher worker remittances come after a higher number of the island nation’s labour force left the country searching for foreign jobs amid Sri Lanka’s recovery from an unprecedented 2022 economic crisis, official data showed. 

Worker remittances are the top foreign exchange revenue earners for the island nation which is still recovering from an unprecedented economic crisis hit in 2022.

Remittances have risen continuously after the central bank gave up a parallel exchange rate regime, which compelled most expatriates to switch from informal Undiyal and Hawala money transfer methods.

The island nation has been in the process of sending more migrant workers focusing on professionals to bring in higher foreign exchange since the country declared bankruptcy in 2022.

Worker remittances coming through official channels fell sharply in 2021 after many expatriates switched to informal money transferring channels as they were given higher rates than formal banking channels.

The move came after the Central Bank printed money to sterilize interventions and keep a policy rate down, triggering parallel exchange rates settled outside the formal banking system.