Economic Outlook 2026

What happened to the Economy in 2025?

In 2025, Sri Lanka’s economy had begun to stabilise after years of crisis and contraction, aided by the suspension of external commercial debt repayments, easing inflation, stronger worker remittances, and a rebound in tourism earnings. This fragile recovery, however, has been sharply derailed by Cyclone Ditwah, which struck in late November and caused extensive damage nationwide. The disaster is expected to dampen economic growth, place additional strain on public finances, reignite concerns over debt sustainability, and intensify pressure on households and key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure.

A tentative economic recovery took shape in 2025, underpinned by a modest build-up of foreign exchange reserves due to the suspension of loan repayments, easing inflation, stronger remittance inflows, and rising activity across construction, tourism, logistics, ICT, and financial services. While growth remained positive, its momentum was constrained by infrastructure bottlenecks, weak global demand, and persistent fiscal pressures. After years of grappling with low growth, weak investment, and the consequences of macroeconomic missteps, Sri Lanka nonetheless appeared to be drifting back toward a familiar pattern of instability. Despite incremental gains from gradual fiscal consolidation, inflation targeting, and improved foreign inflows, these advances were eroded by short-sighted policy choices, political complacency, and the absence of coherent long-term planning.

What’s in store in the coming year of 2026?

Sri Lanka’s current macroeconomic fundamentals suggest that the economy has emerged from acute crisis conditions and is moving toward gradual stabilisation. However, growth remains weak from a low base, while inflation has eased from a historically elevated index level. External inflows have improved compared with the contractionary years of the pandemic, yet significant challenges persist in public finances, external debt management, and the recovery of key sectors. Of particular concern is the near absence of new foreign currency debt inflows from bilateral sources.

Looking ahead, sustained fiscal discipline, stronger private-sector investment, and targeted, sector-specific growth strategies could help rebuild business confidence, improve liquidity, ease interest rates, and support a recovery in domestic demand. While these factors could translate into a more meaningful economic upturn in 2026, the government’s current weaknesses in policy execution and implementation cast doubt on the likelihood of such an optimistic outcome.

INFLATION

Outlook for 2026

Sri Lanka’s inflation remained subdued throughout most of 2024–2025, largely reflecting weak domestic demand amid stagnant growth, tight monetary conditions, and a managed exchange rate policy. The low CCPI was driven by a combination of slow economic activity, easing food prices, muted consumer demand, and depressed oil and other essential commodity prices. Despite lower interest rates, demand-side pressures did not materialise, and core inflation stayed well contained.

Looking ahead, inflationary pressures could begin to surface in the second half of 2026 as reconstruction spending and credit growth gradually pick up, particularly if supply-side constraints are not adequately addressed. However, the Central Bank’s inflation-targeting framework, together with the IMF’s strong emphasis on fiscal discipline under its programmes, should act as a firm anchor against overheating. While cyclone-related disruptions may trigger short-term price increases in food items and construction materials, the underlying inflation trend is expected to remain within target.

Accordingly, headline inflation is projected to stay in the 4%–6% range in 2026, with only temporary volatility arising from movements in global commodity prices, domestic supply adjustments, and infrastructure-related disruptions.

FOREGIEN EXCHANGE RESERVES

Sri Lanka Reserves Breakdown

Outlook for 2026

Foreign exchange reserves have strengthened relative to the crisis period, supported by the debt default and higher FX inflows from IMF disbursements, currency swaps, tourism receipts, worker remittances, and short-term “hot money” flows into Treasury bills and bonds. However, underlying or organic reserve accumulation has remained slow, raising serious concerns about Sri Lanka’s capacity to meet foreign currency debt repayments from 2028 onwards, when scheduled obligations resume.

Reserves therefore require prudent management, particularly as import demand is likely to recover gradually and cyclone-related reconstruction activity begins. Sustaining an adequate reserve buffer will depend on maintaining:

• Stable multilateral and bilateral financial support.
• Steady growth in remittances through formal channels,
• Strong performance in service exports such as ICT, tourism, and logistics,
• Timely implementation of energy sector investments, and

Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange reserves are likely to come under pressure in 2026, despite lower debt-service obligations following the external default, a recovery in tourism earnings, and continued multilateral financing. The current level of reserves reflects a heavy reliance on short-term borrowings and IMF-related inflows as the primary drivers of accumulation. Addressing this vulnerability will require timely policy adjustments and targeted initiatives to strengthen more durable and sustainable sources of reserve growth.

INTEREST RATES

BENCHMARK INTEREST RATE

Outlook for 2026

Interest rates now appear to be driven largely by the strict IMF-mandated austerity programme, as reflected in the unusually wide gap between Treasury yields and prevailing inflation. While political stability and adherence to this tight framework have narrowed the policy space available to the Government and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), the persistence of interest rates that are arguably higher than warranted has diluted potential economic gains. In particular, elevated borrowing costs have offset the benefits of fiscal restraint by constraining much-needed public capital expenditure.

Despite IMF oversight, interest rates have not eased sufficiently, continuing to place pressure on businesses and borrowers. Stress within the banking sector has moderated and non-performing loans have stabilised, largely because new credit growth has been minimal. Nevertheless, lending quality concerns and sector-specific risks remain high, especially in agriculture, tourism, and small enterprises disrupted by recent shocks. Establishing a predictable and moderately priced interest-rate environment is now critical for financial-sector stability and renewed capital formation. Meanwhile, modest foreign participation in government securities has helped limit upward pressure on yields and contain currency volatility.

Against this backdrop, market interest rates are expected to edge higher in 2026, although there may be room for moderate easing if domestic liquidity improves through stronger foreign exchange inflows linked to cyclone relief and reconstruction support. While short-term borrowing needs are likely to rise to fund rebuilding and infrastructure requirements, the policy discipline imposed under the IMF programme should help contain excessive interest-rate volatility, despite ongoing inefficiencies in government execution.

GOVERNMENT DEBT

Prediction for 2026:
Projected Debt (end 2026) Rs.32 Trillion	Government debt is expected to increaserapidly in nominalterms, and the pace may even increase duringthe 2026, unlessrevenue growth is maintained.

Outlook for 2026

Borrowing pressures and associated risks remained elevated in 2025, with the overall risk profile continuing to widen, even as domestic markets absorbed issuances at lower yields for a limited period.

Looking ahead to 2026, the greater risk is not excessive borrowing but underinvestment and an inability to generate sufficient economic growth, which would ultimately undermine debt-servicing capacity over time. Sri Lanka’s financing needs are therefore expected to remain substantial, driven by high interest costs, challenging rollover requirements, post-disaster reconstruction spending, and funding demands from state-owned enterprises. While debt restructuring agreements have temporarily eased immediate repayment pressures, they effectively represent a deferral rather than a resolution, implying that sustained borrowing will still be required to manage maturing domestic obligations, maintain essential public services, and finance critical infrastructure.

However, future debt sustainability cannot be a reality unless:

• There is an immediate healthy GDP growth and export diversification which would reduce reliance on external debt
• Borrowing supports productive investment, not recurrent spending
• Interest costs are reduced substantially.
• Reconstruction and infrastructure spending is executed efficiently and transparently

The main challenge for the Government therefore would be to enhance the quality and purpose of debt, especially borrowing used to fund growth- enhancing capital investment.

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Outstanding Public Debt as at end June 2025

Outlook for2026

Sri Lanka’s debt burden remained exceptionally high in 2025, even after the completion of both domestic and external debt restructuring. Gains in revenue mobilisation—achieved partly at the expense of economic growth—together with tight expenditure controls and policy continuity under the IMF programme, have helped stabilise the overall debt position. Nonetheless, social protection spending continues to exert fiscal pressure, although historically loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have begun to return to profitability following the implementation of IMF-backed cost-recovery mechanisms.

The public debt-to-GDP ratio remained broadly stable in 2025 after several years of sharp increases from its 2014 low of around 69%. While debt default and restructuring have reduced near-term repayment risks, and stronger revenue performance has delayed immediate stress, elevated interest costs continue to pose a significant medium-term risk to debt sustainability.

Over the next two years, sustained progress in this ratio will depend on:

• Achieving and sustaining strong economic growth
• Reducing dependence on transfers and subsidies to state-owned enterprises
• Improving the efficiency of government capital expenditure, particularly in infrastructure development
• Ensuring consistent tax administration and broadening the tax base
• Reversing policies that have dampened economic growth
• Avoiding ad hoc and unplanned public spending

A meaningful improvement in the debt ratio beyond 2026 will depend on real GDP growth being consistently above 5.0%, improved export earnings, a strengthening LKR, continued fiscal discipline, and productive investment that supports long-term capacity building. As to whether there would be credible plan ensure such outcomes remains to be seen.

Outlook for 2026

Foreign investor participation in Sri Lanka’s government securities has started to recover after plunging to historic lows during the 2020–2022 crisis. Lower near-term repayment risks, subdued inflation, and expectations of exchange rate and interest rate volatility appear to have attracted foreign “hot-money” investors seeking exposure to frontier-market debt.

Although short-term movements in global interest rates may influence the direction and scale of these flows, the prevailing trend reflects opportunistic, short-duration positioning aimed at capturing near-term gains. This has helped compress Treasury bill and bond yields in the short run, offering some temporary relief to domestic financing conditions.

Going forward, the sustainability of foreign inflows will hinge on global rate dynamics, IMF-related developments, exchange rate stability, and overall market liquidity. Should inflation remain well contained and the external sector continue to recover, a gradual increase in foreign holdings of government securities is likely.

Outlook for 2026:

Government revenue collection has improved on the back of tax administration reforms, tighter exemptions, stronger compliance mechanisms, and adjustments to the tax structure. However, overall expenditure pressures remain elevated due to exceptionally high interest costs, ongoing social support programmes, infrastructure demands, and post-disaster reconstruction spending following recent weather-related disruptions. As a result, the fiscal deficit is likely to remain high in 2025.

While fiscal data for 2024–2025 show a clear improvement in revenue performance, a key concern is that the bulk of these gains has been absorbed by rapidly rising interest costs, leaving fiscal deficits stubbornly large. In 2022, government interest payments amounted to Rs. 1,205 billion, or 4.8% of GDP, against revenues of Rs. 2,132 billion, or 8.4% of GDP. IMF-driven revenue enhancement measures took effect from 2023 onwards; however, by 2025, interest costs are projected to surge to around Rs. 2,950 billion, while revenues are estimated to increase to Rs. 4,990 billion. This implies that roughly Rs. 1,745 billion of additional interest expenditure—relative to 2022 levels—will be incurred in 2025, largely reflecting the high interest rate environment maintained under IMF-guided monetary policy. This stance has also contributed to widespread financial distress among businesses and households between 2022 and 2025, as many struggled to service elevated borrowing costs.

Looking ahead, the fiscal deficit is expected to widen further in 2026, driven by persistently high interest expenses, reconstruction-related outlays, and sector-specific support measures. There is therefore a material risk that the fiscal consolidation trajectory could be undermined, even if capital spending remains well targeted and tax exemptions are tightly controlled. Reconstruction following recent climate-related shocks, rising social protection needs, and higher growth-supportive capital expenditure will add to short-term deficit pressures, while any moderation in economic activity could weaken tax revenues in 2026. Fiscal space is likely to remain constrained until growth gains traction and the full benefits of debt restructuring are realised.

EXCHANGE RATE

Outlook for 2026

The LKR has has been reasonably stable compared to its value at the start of the IMF programme. This is probably due to:

• Non payment of Forex commercial debt for 43 months, so far
• Strong inflows from tourism and remittances
• Large quantum of SWAPs
• IMF funds flow into the Reserves
• “Hot-money” inflows into T/Bills and Bonds
• Lower domestic demand limiting non-essential imports due to slow growth of the economy.

Despite stabilization, the LKR is unlikely to remain flat in the near term. The IMF-monitored “flexible” exchange rate seems to have been artificially controlled to prevent from depreciation in 2025.

Over the next year-2026, the maintenance of the LKR value will depend primarily on:

• Strength of service exports (ICT, tourism, worker remittance, logistics)
• FDI materialization in energy, infrastructure, and real estate.
• Domestic inflation, relative to global trends
• Investor Confidence
• Entry and exit of “hot-money” investments in G-Secs
• Perception about debt repayment ability in 2028

Overall, temporary pressures may also arise from reconstruction-related imports, exchange-rate flexibility and foreign inflows related to multi- lateral financing, PPP projects, and energy investments.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS

Prediction for 2026:
Likely to be
less than USD 1.0 billion,
(<1% of GDP)

Outlook for 2026

FDI inflows in 2025 were expected to recover from crisis-era lows, driven by interest in infrastructure partnerships, renewable energy, technology services, and niche export-oriented manufacturing. However, actual inflows fell well short of potential, constrained by institutional delays, regulatory bottlenecks, and high global financing costs. Whether this latent investor interest converts into durable long-term capital will depend on sustained policy consistency, regulatory clarity, and faster execution of approved projects.

Sri Lanka’s current FDI outlook remains subdued, as investor-unfriendly policies, the lingering stigma of debt default, and concerns over macroeconomic stability continue to weigh on sentiment. While global uncertainty and elevated interest rates are likely to further dampen large-scale greenfield investments, selective strategic inflows may still materialise in areas such as renewable energy, logistics, ICT services, real estate–linked developments, and infrastructure partnerships.

Nevertheless, it is now time for Sri Lanka to prioritize quality FDI, with a focus on:

• Export value addition
• Up-market real estate
• Technology transfer and skilled employment
• Domestic supply-chain integration
• Partnerships in renewable energy, logistics, and digital trade

FOREIGN REMITTANCES

Prediction for 2026:
Worker remittances in 2026 to be in the range of USD 7.3 – 7.5 bn with around 70% estimated to originate from the Middle East

Outlook for 2026

Worker remittances maintained stable double-digit growth in both 2024 and 2025, providing crucial support to Sri Lanka’s external sector during the recovery phase. A partial easing of global inflation and strengthening labour markets in the Gulf helped sustain overseas worker incomes. In 2025, higher deployment of Sri Lankan workers to construction and service sectors across GCC countries further contributed to the rise in remittance inflows.

In 2026 too, worker remittances are expected to remain strong and continue as the single largest source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka. 

Higher wages in GCC economies, improved foreign employment placements, and incentives to use formal remittance channels are supporting continued inflows. While oil price volatility could influence remittance growth at the margin, labour demand in construction, logistics, healthcare, and domestic services across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait is expected to remain strong. The expansion of digital remittance platforms and banking incentives is also helping reduce leakages to informal channels. Nevertheless, a sharp acceleration in remittance inflows appears unlikely in 2026, with growth expected to remain gradual rather than dramatic.

BALANCE OF TRADE

EXPORTS

IMPORTS

Balance of Payments

Outlook for 2026

Sri Lanka’s balance of payments (BOP) has proven considerably more resilient than during previous crisis episodes, supported by the recovery in tourism, growth in ICT exports, improved worker remittances following the Covid-19 pandemic, and—most critically—the external debt default, which sharply reduced immediate foreign exchange outflows.

However, short-term pressures could emerge from higher capital imports linked to reconstruction and infrastructure development, the absence of effective incentives for investment and export-oriented sectors, taxes on digital remittance channels, and persistently negligible new FDI inflows. Together, these factors pose meaningful vulnerabilities to the BOP outlook in 2026.

Even so, the BOP is expected to remain modestly positive in 2026, underpinned by continued gains in remittances and tourism earnings. In addition, reduced external debt servicing obligations during the year should ease near-term pressure on reserves, while targeted import management and a gradual export recovery could help maintain external stability.

Accordingly, although reconstruction-related imports and demand for capital goods may widen the trade deficit, sustaining a BOP surplus in 2026 will hinge on preserving strong remittance inflows, expanding service exports, and attracting stable, long-term foreign investment.

STOCK MARKET

Outlook for 2026

As anticipated earlier in the year, Colombo Stock Exchange indices advanced through much of 2025, underpinned by easing interest rates and improved corporate earnings. However, the economic disruption caused by Cyclone Ditwah is likely to temporarily shift market momentum, with the ASPI now facing a potential late-year correction as investors reassess sectoral earnings prospects, reconstruction timelines, and mounting fiscal pressures.

Notwithstanding this near-term adjustment, medium-term market fundamentals remain compelling, particularly when viewed in US dollar terms, where valuations continue to appear attractive. Accordingly, the cyclone’s impact on equities is expected to be largely short-lived, while the broader investment case remains intact, supported by:

• Intrinsic value of corporate balance sheets and easing finance costs
• Strengthening external inflows from tourism, remittances, ICT and logistics
• Structural reforms linked to fiscal consolidation and possible state- enterprise restructuring

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