Colombo: Sri Lanka has reported a significant boost in its foreign exchange earnings in the first quarter of 2025, driven by increases in both tourism revenue and workers’ remittances, according to data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Between January and March 2025, workers' remittances surged to over 1.8 billion U.S. dollars, up from 1.5 billion dollars during the same period in 2024. This comes on the heels of a strong year in 2024, when total remittances reached 6.57 billion dollars, marking a 10.1 percent year-on-year growth.

Tourism also saw a positive uptick. In Q1 2025, tourism earnings hit over 1.1 billion dollars, reflecting a 9.4 percent increase compared to the same quarter last year. Tourist arrivals grew by 13.6 percent year-on-year, with more than 722,000 visitors recorded in the first three months of 2025.

The encouraging figures provide a much-needed boost to Sri Lanka’s economy, which relies heavily on tourism and remittances for foreign exchange. The steady recovery in both sectors signals growing global confidence in the island nation's economic and travel outlook.