Sri Lanka’s economy continues to receive strong support from citizens working overseas. According to the latest figures released for April 2026, the amount of money sent home by Sri Lankan foreign workers reached USD 767.9 million in a single month.
This represents an impressive growth of approximately 19% compared to the same period last year. In April 2025, foreign remittances totaled around USD 646 million, showing a clear upward trend in the country’s foreign exchange income.
The data also reveals that during the first four months of 2026 alone, Sri Lanka received more than USD 3.06 billion through remittances sent by overseas workers worldwide. These figures were published based on reports from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan government continues to strengthen international cooperation and agreements with foreign countries in order to expand employment opportunities for its citizens. In addition, efforts are being made to train skilled workers, open new job markets, and improve welfare and support programs for Sri Lankan employees working abroad.
As a result of these initiatives, thousands of Sri Lankans continue to seek employment overseas as a major source of income. From the beginning of 2026 until early May, approximately 79,954 Sri Lankan workers had departed for foreign employment.
The United Arab Emirates remains the leading destination for Sri Lankan workers, with more than 17,000 workers traveling there during this period, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.
In addition, 2025 became a historic year for foreign remittances, as Sri Lanka recorded more than USD 8 billion in remittance inflows for the first time ever — the highest amount in the country’s history.
Source – SLBFE
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