Foreign remittances sent by Sri Lankan migrant workers reached USD 767.9 million in April 2026, marking a significant increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment ((SLBFE).
The figure represents a 19% rise from April 2025, when Sri Lanka received USD 646 million in remittances.
Data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka showed Sri Lanka earned a total of USD 3.06 billion in foreign remittances during the first four months of 2026.
Officials attributed the growth to several government initiatives aimed at expanding overseas employment opportunities for Sri Lankan workers. These include strengthening bilateral agreements with foreign countries, opening new job markets for skilled workers, and improving welfare benefits for migrant employees.
The SLBFE also reported that 79,954 Sri Lankans departed for foreign employment during the first four months of 2026. Of them, the largest group — 17,012 workers — traveled to the United Arab Emirates for employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever annual foreign remittance inflow in 2025, surpassing USD 8 billion, highlighting the continued importance of overseas workers to the country’s economy.
