Rupee Crashes by 7.8% Against US Dollar Amid Tourist Revenue Slump

The Sri Lankan rupee has depreciated significantly against the US dollar this year. As of July 24, 2026, it had fallen by 7.8% compared to the same period in 2025, according to Central Bank data.

Tourism revenue continued to decline, with earnings dropping from $1,712 million during January to June 2025 to $1,511 million in the corresponding period of 2026, representing a decrease of nearly 12%. Additionally, tourist arrivals declined by approximately 2%, from 1,168,044 to 1,146,574.

In contrast, workers' remittances saw a significant increase of 23.2% during this period, rising from $3,738 million to $4,604.8 million.