📈 Workers’ Remittances Surge 26.5% YoY to US$ 2.3 Bn in 1Q 2026

Sri Lanka’s primary foreign exchange source showed strong momentum in the first quarter of 2026, driven by festive season inflows and increased confidence in formal banking channels. • Overall Performance: Total remittance inflows for 1Q 2026 reached nearly US$ 2.3 Bn, marking a significant 26.5% YoY increase compared to the same period in 2025. • Monthly Highlights: March 2026 recorded inflows of US$ 814.8 Mn (up 17.5% YoY). This stands as the second-highest monthly inflow in history, surpassed only by December 2025. • Sector Context & Trends: The surge occurred despite regional tensions, with March marking the first full month of the Middle East conflict. The 2025 calendar year set an all-time record of US$ 8.07 Bn in total remittances, a 23% YoY growth. While total departures for foreign employment declined slightly by 1.2% in 2025 (310,915 workers), the sharp rise in value indicates higher earnings per worker and a shift toward formal transfer mechanisms. • Economic Impact: Remittances remain the largest and most reliable pillar of Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange liquidity, outpacing other sectors in supporting the nation's post-crisis recovery. _Data based on latest provisional Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) reports._