Sri Lanka, March 3 -- Sri Lanka's external sector kicked off 2025 on a strong note, with steady inflows from services exports, tourism, and remittances helping offset pressure from a widening trade deficit, the Central Bank said.
The current account posted a higher surplus in January compared to a year ago, supported by improvements in services and secondary income, even as merchandise trade saw a year-on-year (YoY) expansion in the deficit. Import expenditure totalled US$ 1.78 billion, outpacing export earnings which amounted to US$ 1.053 billion, but the terms of trade improved as export prices rose at a faster pace than import costs.
Tourism earnings surged to an estimated US$ 401 million in January, marking the highest-ever monthly ar...