Worker remittances exceed US$ 2bn by April

Workers’ remittances to Sri Lanka surpassed the US$ 2 billion mark in the first four months of 2025. Despite the milestone, cumulative inflows are trailing last year’s pace, official data showed.

Data from the Central Bank showed remittances from January to April totalled US$ 2.08 billion, a 15.5 percent drop from the US$ 2.46 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.

April brought in US$ 646.1 million, up 18.8% year-on-year, marking another strong monthly performance following March’s surge.

Remittances in March climbed 21.1 percent to US$ 693.3 million, the second-highest ever recorded in a single month after the US$ 702.1 million peak seen in July 2020. The March jump was driven by a rise in funds sent through official banking channels, the Central Bank noted.

Still, the outlook for remittance inflows may face pressure, with departures for foreign employment on the decline. In the first four months of 2025, 89,132 individuals left the country for work abroad, down 9.1 percent from 97,264 a year ago. Monthly departures averaged 22,238 this year, compared to around 24,300 in 2024.