Remittances

Remittances are the lifeblood of Sri Lanka’s economy, and the community abroad makes an enormous difference. In the first ten months of 2025 alone, total workers’ remittances reached USD 6.52 billion, putting the full-year 2025 figure on track to surpass the record set in 2024. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) actively encourages the use of formal, regulated channels,  which are also safer, and faster, for remittances.

Official Remittance App: Lanka Remit

Launched by the CBSL, Lanka Remit is the national remittance mobile application:

• Connected to: Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank (HNB), Commercial Bank, Nations Trust Bank (NTB), National Development Bank (NDB), National Savings Bank (NSB), Cargills Bank, Dialog, and Mobitel
• Enables instant fund transfer to any bank account or mobile wallet in Sri Lanka
• Directly links with global money transfer operators and FinTechs

Sending Money from Key Diaspora Regions

Important note for Russia/CIS senders: Due to international sanctions affecting some financial channels, always verify the current status of your chosen transfer method with the CBSL or your bank before sending. Using formal, CBSL-approved channels protects both sender and recipient.

Major Remittance Services & Banks

• Bank of Ceylon: 890+ correspondent banks worldwide; 650+ payment locations across Sri Lanka
• People’s Bank: Supports SWIFT transfers, RIA Money Transfer, and Remitly (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Singapore, EU)
• Sampath Bank E-Remittance: Instant transfer to any Sampath or other bank account
• Global services: Western Union, MoneyGram, Wise, and Remitly are widely used by the diaspora

Key Resources & Links

• • 🔗 Lanka Remit — Central Bank of Sri Lanka National Remittance App
  • 🔗 Department of Foreign Exchange, CBSL — Regulations and FAQs
  • 🔗 Bank of Ceylon — Inward Remittances
  • 🔗 People’s Bank — Foreign Remittance Services