Sri Lanka’s Exports Defy Middle East Geopolitical Shocks with 6% Growth in Early 2026
Driven by an impressive 10.5% surge in high-value service exports, Sri Lanka registered a 6% year-on-year increase in total export earnings during the first four months of 2026.
Sri Lanka's trade sector has demonstrated strong resilience, registering a 6 percent year-on-year growth in exports during the first four months of 2026, despite compounding global macroeconomic pressures from Middle East conflicts. According to Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe, the current upward trajectory positions the island nation to eclipse the historic, record-high export revenues achieved in 2025. A major catalyst for this growth is the service sector, which now accounts for roughly 22 percent of total export proceeds. Service exports brought in an unprecedented US$1.28 billion between January and April 2026—a 10.5 percent climb compared to the same period last year—fueled primarily by a booming information technology vertical.