Vehicles Worth 42 Billion Imported

Sri Lanka imported vehicles valued at approximately $125.4 million, or about 41,971 crore Sri Lankan Rupees, during the first six months of 2026. This figure represents a significant decrease in import expenditure compared to the same period in the previous year.

According to the latest data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the country's vehicle import costs for the first half of 2026 dropped by $318 million, equivalent to roughly 10,645 crore Sri Lankan Rupees, when compared to the first six months of 2025.

Further details indicate a monthly decline as well. In June 2026, vehicle imports totaled $182 million (approximately 6,093 crore Sri Lankan Rupees). This amount reflects a 27.1% reduction from May 2026, translating to a decrease of about 2,276 crore Sri Lankan Rupees in import costs.

However, when comparing June 2026 to June 2025, there was a notable increase. Vehicle imports in June 2026 reached $182 million, an increase of 638 crore Sri Lankan Rupees compared to the $163 million (approximately 5,455 crore Sri Lankan Rupees) imported in June of the previous year. In the first six months of last year, Sri Lanka imported vehicles worth $157 million (around 52,614 crore Sri Lankan Rupees).