Economy & Growth

Lanka records highest-ever monthly workers’ remittances of USD 879.1 Mn in Dec. 2025

The country’s annual workers’ remittances has surpassed the USD 8 billion mark in 2025 for the first time in history , according to the latest data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL)

The CBSL Weekly Indicators report released on Friday shows total workers’ inflows for 2025 amounted to USD 8.07 billion. This represents a 22.8% increase compared to the USD 6.57 billion recorded in 2024. Prior to this, the highest annual level of workers’ remittances was reported in 2016, with inflows of USD 7.24 billion.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka also recorded the highest-ever monthly workers’ remittances in December 2025, amounting to USD 879.1 million. The

Dr. Anil Jayantha

previous monthly record was reported in December 2020, when remittances reached USD 812.7 million, which until now stood as the highest monthly inflow on record.Cumulative tourists earning for 2025 stood at USD 3.22 Bn and Total Official Reserves at 6.82 Bn.

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayanta Fernando participating in a mobile service program held at Divulapitiya on Saturday (10) to support communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah said the government’s goal is to attract between USD 1.5

billion and USD 2 billion in foreign investment this year.

He said that foreign investment exceeding USD 1 billion floated into the country in 2025 and this was something that could not be accomplished in a single year before.

“These are new investments. Looking ahead to 2026, we are planning to attract between USD 1.5 and 2 billion.”

He said for nearly 20 years after much struggle, only about USD 13 to USD 14 billion has been brought into the country and this is something that could not be achieved over the past 70 years. The minister said, ” the main challenge we faced was creating the right environment. That is why in 2025 we focused on establishing stability and that stability has now been achieved. Within that stable environment, we were able to attract over USD 1 billion in foreign investment in 2025.”

Dr Fernando said although economic growth was initially forecast at around 3.5%, the year concluded with a growth rate of 5% and looking ahead to 2026, the government has allocated Rs. 4,480 billion for public investment,with a clear focus on implementation, especially in building critical national infrastructure.

Additionally, as part of the disaster relief package, significant priority has been given to infrastructure development with a total of Rs. 500 billion allocated for the overall package of which, Rs. 250 billion is specifically earmarked for infrastructure-related interventions aimed at accelerating economic growth.

Source: Daily News