Sri Lanka received a record monthly remittance inflow of US$712 million in October, indicating a strong year ahead for income from Sri Lankans working abroad.
The October figure surpasses both the US$587.7 million earned in the same month last year and US$695.7 million received in September 2025. With these inflows, total remittances for the first ten months of 2025 reached US$6,523.7 million, marking a 20.1 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Despite a recent slowdown in departures for foreign employment, higher departures in recent years, a weaker rupee, and political stability have helped attract increased inflows from Sri Lankans working overseas.
In 2024, Sri Lanka earned US$6,575.4 million in remittances, up 10.1 percent from 2023. If the current trend continues, total remittances for 2025 could reach around US$7.8 billion, potentially the highest ever recorded.
The upcoming year-end festive season, which traditionally sees higher repatriation of earnings, is also expected to boost remittance inflows further.
Remittances continue to provide a vital buffer for Sri Lanka’s balance of payments, supporting external sector stability. Additionally, the country is set to receive another US$347 million from the International Monetary Fund as its sixth programme tranche before the end of the year.
