Sri Lanka’s energy import bill experienced a steep rise during the first nine months of 2026, driven primarily by higher spending on refined petroleum.

According to the latest statistics from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the country spent USD 4,487.2 million on fuel imports between January and September 2026. This represents a 51.5% surge from the USD 2,961.3 million recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

The main factor behind this expansion was the cost of refined petroleum imports, which jumped 60.4%. Expenditure in this category rose from USD 2,171.4 million in the previous year to USD 3,483.7 million during the nine-month window.

However, figures from September 2026 show a modest turn in monthly spending. Fuel import expenditure for the month fell 5.8% to USD 415.1 million, compared to USD 440.7 million spent in September 2025.