Sri Lanka Vehicle Imports Top USD 1 Billion in Eight Months

Sri Lanka has spent over US$1 billion on vehicle imports in the first eight months of 2025, following the lifting of import restrictions earlier this year.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s External Sector Performance Report for August 2025 shows that vehicle import expenditure from January to August amounted to US$1,007.5 million, with August alone recording the highest monthly bill of US$255.7 million.

The surge reflects heightened demand in the automobile market as restrictions were eased after nearly four years, making vehicles one of the largest contributors to import expenditure in recent months.