External sector
Trade, balance of payments, reserves, exchange rates, tourism and remittances.
4,462 series · 46 tables · 1948–2031
from CBSL, Customs, ECB and 6 other agencies
Rupees per US dollar, selling
Rs, daily
Merchandise exports
US$ million, monthly
Merchandise imports
US$ million, monthly
Workers' remittances
US$ million, monthly
Tourism earnings
US$ million, monthly
Official reserve assets
US$ billion, monthly
Reserves, months of imports
months, monthly
Tourist arrivals
number, monthly
Key figures
Rupees per US dollar, sellingRs335.7315 Oct 2026, +9.5% on a year earlier Merchandise exportsUS$1,240mnAug 2026, −3.3% on a year earlier Merchandise importsUS$1,914mnAug 2026, +12.8% on a year earlier Workers' remittancesUS$734.4mnSep 2026, +5.6% on a year earlier Tourism earningsUS$264.4mnAug 2026, +2.1% on a year earlier Official reserve assetsUS$6.85bnSep 2026, +9.7% on a year earlier Reserves, months of imports3.20monthsJul 2026, −0.5 months on a year earlier Tourist arrivals158,971numberSep 2025, +30.2% on a year earlierEvery figure is as the Central Bank of Sri Lanka publishes it; the change on a year earlier is calculated by Macro Lab.
Typing filters the tables below. Press Enter to list every external sector series that matches.
Headline
The rupee, trade, the balance of payments, reserves, remittances and tourism.
Exchange ratesDaily exchange rates of the rupee against the dollar and other currencies.22 indicators, daily and weekly, 2005–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Economic Data Library (wizard); CBSL Weekly Economic Indicators; CBSL exchange rate lookupsOpen table
Merchandise tradeMerchandise exports and imports by main category, monthly, quarterly and annual.150 indicators, monthly, quarterly and annual, 1950–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Economic Data Library (wizard); CBSL SDDS 'More Data' workbooks; CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Reserves and international investment positionGross official reserves and the international investment position.138 indicators, quarterly and annual, 1993–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Economic Data Library (wizard); CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
TourismTourist arrivals and earnings.33 indicators, monthly, quarterly and annual, 1970–2026, from CBSL and SLTDAFrom: CBSL Economic Data Library (wizard); CBSL Economic and Social Statistics; CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Long-run series since 1950Exports, imports, the trade balance and reserves, one line each since 1950.20 indicators, annual, 1950–2025, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Annual Economic Review statistical appendixOpen table
Balance of paymentsThe balance of payments in summary: current, capital and overall balances.7 indicators, monthly, quarterly and annual, 1994–2025, from CBSL; no new readings since Aug 2025From: CBSL Economic Data Library (wizard)Open table
Central Bank purchases and sales of foreign exchangeThe Central Bank's monthly purchases and sales of foreign exchange from banks, since 2013.3 indicators, monthly, 2013–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Weekly Economic IndicatorsShow the 3 rows
| Indicator | Latest, US$ mn | On a year earlier* | Period | Recent trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central bank purchases of foreign exchange from commercial banks | 85.0 | −54.7% | Sep 2026 | |
| Central bank sales of foreign exchange to commercial banks | 20.8 | – | Sep 2026 | |
| Central bank net purchases of foreign exchange (purchases less sales) | 64.2 | −65.8% | Sep 2026 |
* Calculated by Macro Lab from the published values.
Workers' remittancesWorkers' remittances, monthly.1 indicators, monthly, 2009–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesShow the 1 row
| Indicator | Latest, US$ bn | On a year earlier* | Period | Recent trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers remittances | 0.73 | +5.6% | Sep 2026 |
* Calculated by Macro Lab from the published values.
Trade in detail
Exports and imports by product, partner and price, and trade in services.
Merchandise trade by product, US dollarsMerchandise trade by product, annual, in US dollars.118 indicators, annual, 1990–2025, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Merchandise trade by product, rupeesMerchandise trade by product, in rupees.124 indicators, monthly and annual, 1990–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Merchandise trade by SITC sectionMerchandise trade by SITC section.44 indicators, monthly and annual, 2014–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Trade values, volumes and pricesTrade values, volumes and prices as indices, and the terms of trade.309 indicators, monthly and annual, 1990–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Export destinationsExports by destination country.53 indicators, annual, 2020–2025, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
Import originsImports by country of origin.53 indicators, annual, 2020–2025, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
Textiles and garmentsTextile and garment exports from Customs.30 indicators, annual, 2013–2025, from CustomsFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
Trade in servicesTrade in services by type, monthly.117 indicators, monthly, 2023–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Balance of payments in detail
The full accounts on the current BPM6 basis, monthly, quarterly and annual.
Balance of payments, monthlyThe balance of payments, monthly.194 indicators, monthly, 2023–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Balance of payments, quarterlyThe balance of payments, quarterly.362 indicators, quarterly, 2012–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Balance of payments, annualThe balance of payments, annual.416 indicators, annual, 2012–2025, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Balance of payments summary, BPM5 and BPM6The balance of payments summary on both bases, BPM5 and BPM6.91 indicators, annual, 2003–2025, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
Reserves, investment and financing
The reserves template, direct and portfolio investment, and government borrowing abroad.
Reserves template: reserves and foreign-currency drainsThe reserves template: official reserve assets and foreign-currency drains, monthly.72 indicators, monthly, 2013–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Official reserves in detailOfficial reserves in detail, with months of imports.9 indicators, monthly, quarterly and annual, 2014–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Monthly BulletinOpen table
Direct investment by country (CDIS)Direct investment by country, inward and outward (CDIS).444 indicators, annual, 2025, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesOpen table
Foreign portfolio flowsForeign portfolio flows to the share and bond markets.2 indicators, monthly and annual, 2009–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesShow the 1 row
Shown at annual; the series pages have the other setting.Download this table (CSV)
| Indicator | Latest, US$ bn | On a year earlier* | Period | Recent trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign purchases (inflows) of treasury bills and treasury bonds (annual total) | 0.43 | −0.6% | 2026 |
* Calculated by Macro Lab from the published values.
Government foreign loan disbursementsGovernment foreign loan disbursements.2 indicators, monthly and annual, 2009–2024, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesShow the 1 row
Shown at annual; the series pages have the other setting.Download this table (CSV)
| Indicator | Latest, US$ mn | On a year earlier* | Period | Recent trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government long-term loan disbursements (annual total) | 923.7 | −49.3% | 2024 |
* Calculated by Macro Lab from the published values.
Foreign grants to governmentForeign grants to government.2 indicators, monthly and annual, 2009–2024, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tablesShow the 1 row
Shown at annual; the series pages have the other setting.Download this table (CSV)
| Indicator | Latest, US$ mn | On a year earlier* | Period | Recent trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government grants received (annual total) | 19.6 | −65.0% | 2024 |
* Calculated by Macro Lab from the published values.
International sovereign bondsStopped 2019International sovereign bond issues.2 indicators, monthly and annual, 2009–2019, from CBSL; no new readings since Jun 2019From: CBSL statistical tablesShow the 1 row
Shown at monthly; the series pages have the other setting.Download this table (CSV)
| Indicator | Latest, US$ bn | On a year earlier* | Period | Recent trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International sovereign bond issuance ended | 2.00 | – | Jun 2019 |
* Calculated by Macro Lab from the published values.
Exchange rates and remittances in detail
Monthly and long-run rates, effective rates, forward rates, and remittances by country.
Exchange rates, monthlyExchange rates, monthly averages and month-ends since 1986.45 indicators, monthly and annual, 1986–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL rates and indicatorsOpen table
Exchange rates since 1950The rupee against the dollar since 1950.7 indicators, annual, 1950–2025, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Annual Economic Review statistical appendixOpen table
Effective exchange rate indices in detailEffective exchange rate indices in detail.8 indicators, monthly, quarterly and annual, 2010–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Monthly BulletinOpen table
Forward and interbank exchange ratesForward and interbank exchange rates.10 indicators, monthly, quarterly and annual, 2005–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Monthly BulletinOpen table
Workers' remittances by countryWorkers' remittances by country of origin, quarterly, with the annual table.224 indicators, quarterly, 2022–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL statistical tables; CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
Effective exchange ratesNominal and real effective exchange rate indices.2 indicators, monthly, 2013–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL rates and indicatorsShow the 2 rows
| Indicator | Latest, index | On a year earlier* | Period | Recent trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal effective exchange rate index (24-currency basket, 2017=100) | 53.3 | −8.2% | Aug 2026 | |
| Real effective exchange rate index (24-currency basket, 2017=100) | 72.6 | +1.3% | Aug 2026 |
* Calculated by Macro Lab from the published values. Constant prices are at the base year's prices. Base: 2017 (2013–2026).
For specialists
The old balance of payments basis and forward rates that ended.
Forward exchange ratesForward exchange rates: daily 2005 to 2017; weekly averages, with interbank forward volumes, since 2012.6 indicators, daily and weekly, 2005–2026, from CBSLFrom: CBSL Special Data Dissemination Standard; CBSL Weekly Economic IndicatorsShow the 4 rows
Shown at weekly; the series pages have the other setting.Download this table (CSV)
| Indicator | Latest | On a year earlier* | Period | Recent trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD/LKR 3-month forward rate, weekly average | 334.88Rs per USD | +10.0% | 2 Oct 2026 | |
| USD/LKR 1-month forward rate, weekly average | 332.27Rs per USD | +9.6% | 9 Oct 2026 | |
| Interbank forward market | ||||
| Average daily volume, weekly | 17.5US$ mn | −30.3% | 9 Oct 2026 | |
| Outstanding forward volume | 0.88US$ bn | −8.5% | 8 Oct 2026 | |
* Calculated by Macro Lab from the published values.
International sources
The same economy through the IMF, the World Bank and other international bodies.
Tourist arrivals by country (SLTDA)Tourist arrivals by country of residence, monthly, from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.205 indicators, monthly, 2018–2026, from SLTDAFrom: SLTDA tourist arrivals from all countriesOpen table
Trade by partner (IMF)Sri Lanka's goods exports and imports with its main partners, monthly and annual, from the IMF.88 indicators, monthly and annual, 1948–2026, from IMFFrom: IMF data (WEO, PCPS, IMTS)Open table
Exchange rates in New York (Federal Reserve)Daily exchange rates against the US dollar, the rupee among them, from the Federal Reserve's H.10.29 indicators, daily, 1971–2026, from FRBFrom: Federal Reserve Board H.10 foreign exchange ratesOpen table
Ecb fxThe European Central Bank's daily euro reference rates against the dollar, sterling, yen, yuan and Indian rupee.5 indicators, daily, 1999–2026, from ECBFrom: ECB Data PortalOpen table
The world economy (IMF)Growth and inflation in the world and Sri Lanka's main partners, with the IMF's projections.42 indicators, annual, 1980–2031, from IMFFrom: IMF data (WEO, PCPS, IMTS)Open table
Foreign direct investment (UNCTAD)Foreign direct investment into and out of Sri Lanka, flows and stock, annual.8 indicators, annual, 1990–2025, from UNCTADFrom: UNCTADstat (UNCTAD Data Hub)Open table
Shipping connectivity (UNCTAD)How well Sri Lanka and its ports connect to container shipping networks, quarterly.4 indicators, quarterly, 2006–2026, from UNCTADFrom: UNCTADstat (UNCTAD Data Hub)Open table
IMF World Economic OutlookThe IMF's World Economic Outlook series for Sri Lanka, annual; the April 2026 edition gives no projections for Sri Lanka.6 indicators, annual, 1980–2024, from IMFFrom: IMF data (WEO, PCPS, IMTS)Open table
World Bank indicatorsWorld Bank World Development Indicators for Sri Lanka, annual (CC BY 4.0).48 indicators, annual, 1960–2025, from the World BankFrom: World Bank: World Development Indicators and International Debt StatisticsOpen table
Remittance costs (World Bank)The cost of sending money home to Sri Lanka, by sending country, quarterly, from the World Bank.24 indicators, quarterly, 2011–2025, from WBRPW; no new readings since 2025 Q3From: World Bank Remittance Prices WorldwideOpen table