Sri Lanka’s expenditure on motor vehicle imports has seen a sharp upward trend, surpassing the USD 1 billion mark within the first five months of 2026, according to the latest data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

The Central Bank’s report on the "External Sector Performance" for May 2026 reveals that the total expenditure for the month alone reached USD 250 million. This figure includes imports for both personal and commercial purposes and represents a significant 20.0% increase compared to the spending recorded in April 2026.

A detailed breakdown of the May figures indicates that the majority of the outflow was driven by personal vehicle imports, which accounted for USD 207.8 million. In contrast, expenditure on vehicles imported for commercial activities stood at USD 42.3 million for the same period.

With these figures, the cumulative expenditure on motor vehicle imports for the period of January to May 2026 has reached a total of USD 1,071 million. This milestone highlights a substantial increase in foreign exchange outflow dedicated to the automotive sector during the first half of the year.