Current account and capital flows · Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals YoY

The Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals YoY measures money flowing between Sri Lanka and the rest of the world: trade, income and transfers (current account), or investment in and out of the country.

Importance
Low
Released
Monthly
Next release

Latest figures

The latest release for SEP, published on 15 October 2026, came in at -0.26%, up from -3.3% the time before.

Over the last 12 releases it ranged from -22.30% to 21.50%, averaging 1.64%.

Nov 2025: 21.5%Dec 2025: 15.6%Jan 2026: 4.2%Feb 2026: 9.7%Mar 2026: 16.2%Apr 2026: -19.7%May 2026: -22.3%Jun 2026: 9.65%Jul 2026: -9.9%Aug 2026: -1.7%Sep 2026: -3.3%Oct 2026: -0.26% Nov 2025Oct 2026
Actual results; the short line on a bar marks the consensus.
ReleasedForActualConsensusPrevious
15 Oct 2026SEP-0.26%–-3.3%
9 Sep 2026AUG-3.3%–-1.7%
7 Aug 2026JUL-1.7%–-9.9%
9 Jul 2026JUN-9.9%–9.65%
5 Jun 2026MAY9.65%–-22.3%
12 May 2026APR-22.3%–-19.7%
9 Apr 2026MAR-19.7%–16.2%
6 Mar 2026FEB16.2%–9.7%
6 Feb 2026JAN9.7%–4.2%
9 Jan 2026DEC4.2%–15.6%
19 Dec 2025NOV15.6%–21.5%
7 Nov 2025OCT21.5%–30.2%

See it in the economic calendar →

Why it matters

A current-account deficit must be financed by foreign capital, which makes a currency vulnerable when investors turn cautious; a surplus country lends to the world. Capital-flow data show whether foreigners are buying the country's bonds and shares. Tourism and remittances are large sources of foreign currency for some economies.

How it is calculated

The balance of payments records every transaction with non-residents: goods, services, income, transfers (current account) and investment (financial account); the two mirror each other.

Current account = trade balance + primary income + secondary income
Current account + capital account + financial account ≈ 0

What changes mean

  • A deficit above about 4–5% of GDP is often seen as a risk for emerging-market currencies.
  • Large foreign purchases of local bonds support the currency.

Higher than expected: A larger surplus or stronger inflows than expected tend to support the the local currency.

Lower than expected: A larger deficit or weaker inflows than expected tend to weigh on the the local currency.

A short history

Balance-of-payments accounting was standardised by the International Monetary Fund after 1945; current-account crises shaped events from the 1990s emerging-market crises to the euro debt crisis.

Questions

What is the Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals YoY?

The Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals YoY measures money flowing between Sri Lanka and the rest of the world: trade, income and transfers (current account), or investment in and out of the country.

What was the latest Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals YoY?

-0.26% for SEP, published on 15 October 2026.

When is the next Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals YoY?

On Friday 6 November 2026.

Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.