Sri Lanka Vehicle Imports Reach Third Highest Level in 2025
Sri Lanka’s vehicle import expenditure in 2025 has reached the third highest level in history, according to the 2025 Annual Economic Review released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Following the gradual relaxation of import restrictions, all controls on personal vehicle imports were lifted by January 2025. To manage the expected surge in demand after prolonged restrictions, the government introduced several tax and non-tax policy measures.
Despite these controls, vehicle imports increased significantly during 2025. The report highlights that this growth reflects both pent-up demand built up over several years and the gradual recovery of economic activity.
Notably, imports accelerated after April 2025, with total expenditure on both private and commercial vehicles reaching USD 2.04 billion.
This figure ranks as:
- Third highest in Sri Lanka’s history
- Below USD 2.12 billion (2015)
- Below USD 2.09 billion (2018)
The data indicates a strong rebound in the automotive sector alongside broader economic recovery trends.
