Foreign remittances up 32% in May

Colombo, June 17 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka received US$847 million in workers' remittances in May 2026, marking a 32% increase compared to the US$641.7 million received in May 2025, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) said.

According to a CBSL report, the May 2026 figure is the second-highest monthly remittance recorded in the country's history, behind the record US$879.1 million received in December 2025.

During the first five months of 2026, Sri Lanka earned US$3.9 billion in remittances, up 26% from the US$3.10 billion recorded during the same period last year.

The CBSL said the highest amount of remittances this year came from the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, 100,686 Sri Lankans left for foreign employment between January and May 2026. Of them, 21,977 went to the United Arab Emirates, making it the top destination for migrant workers.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said government initiatives, including labour agreements with foreign countries, the introduction of new overseas job opportunities supported by skills training, and financial loan schemes for migrant workers, have encouraged more Sri Lankans to seek employment abroad.