Sri Lanka’s economy expected to grow by around 4-5% in 2026 – CBSL Governor

Sri Lanka’s economy has been projected to grow by around 4 - 5% this year. 
This was confirmed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe.

Speaking at a media briefing held in Colombo today (08), the CBSL Governor said they are hoping to consolidate the economic momentum reported during the past two years.

He noted in 2025, Sri Lanka made notable strides in strengthening macroeconomic stability while advancing policy reforms.

According to the Central Bank Governor, Sri Lanka made strides in the economic front amidst several shocks and uncertainties including trade policy issues, financial market volatilities and geopolitical tensions.

Additionally, the country had to grapple with growing realities of climate vulnerabilities, a fact starkly underscored by Cyclone Ditwah that caused severe devastation in late 2025, in terms of loss of lives and damage to property, while disrupting the livelihoods of many, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe stated.

The Governor of the Central Bank said having made notable progress in building buffers across the main sectors of the economy, such as the fiscal, external, and monetary sectors, he is of the view that the economy possesses greater capacity to bounce back from the devastation much faster than in the past.

Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said after a prolonged period of unprecedented challenges, Sri Lanka enters this year with broadly stabilised macroeconomic conditions. While the recovery has been notable and, in several respects, faster than anticipated, preserving these hard-earned gains will require a sustained commitment to prudent policymaking and the continuation of economic reforms, the Governor stressed.

He concluded by assuring the Central Bank’s commitments to the policies outlined that are refined to deal with economic conditions and new priorities that will emerge in the coming year.