Sri Lanka has been ranked among the top 10 countries in the world for the fastest improvement in the Travel and Tourism Development Index between 2024 and 2026, according to the 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Sri Lanka has been ranked 10th on the list, with its Travel and Tourism Development Index score increasing by 4.33% in 2026 compared to 2024.

Albania ranked first, recording a 7.0% increase in its index score.

Vietnam and Laos ranked second and third, respectively, with increases of 6.3% and 6.1% in their index scores.

Sri Lanka’s export sector has surpassed the US$ 12 Bn mark during the first eight months of 2026, with total exports reaching US$ 12.01 Bn, an increase of 4.26% compared with US$ 11.52 Bn recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.

According to a statement of the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB), the growth reflects continued momentum in Sri Lanka’s export performance, with both merchandise and services exports recording positive growth during the period.

Merchandise exports increased by 3.63% to US$ 9.41 Bn, while services exports recorded a stronger 6.59% growth, reaching US$ 2.60 Bn. The increasing contribution of services continues to strengthen the overall export base and supports the diversification of Sri Lanka’s export earnings.

The positive momentum was also reflected in the performance during August 2026, when total exports reached US$ 1.60 Bn, recording a year-on-year growth of 1.77%. Services exports showed particularly strong performance during the month, increasing by 13.97% to US$ 331.87 Mn, while merchandise exports amounted to US$ 1.27 Bn.

The achievement of the US$ 12 Bn milestone during the first eight months of the year marks another significant step in Sri Lanka’s efforts to expand and diversify its export base, strengthen its presence in international markets and increase the contribution of exports to the national economy.

According to provisional data released by Sri Lanka Customs, together with estimated export values for Gems & Jewellery and Petroleum Products, Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports amounted to US$ 1,269.49 Mn in August 2026, representing a 1.0% year-on-year decrease compared to August 2025.

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Fitch Ratings has upgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘B-’ from ‘CCC+’ and assigned the country a Stable Outlook.

According to Fitch, the upgrade is driven by the implementation of macro-stabilization policies supported by structural reforms that have reduced external financing risks and strengthened the country’s ability to withstand economic shocks.

The ratings agency noted that the improvement is reflected in substantial gains in Sri Lanka’s fiscal and external balances, as well as the gradual rebuilding of foreign exchange reserves.

Fitch stated that continued fiscal discipline and efforts to improve government revenue collection are expected to support sustained primary budget surpluses, helping to place the country’s debt burden on a downward trajectory while reducing the risk of a return to external imbalances.

Despite the upgrade, Fitch cautioned that Sri Lanka continues to face several challenges.

The agency pointed out that the country’s credit profile remains constrained by government debt-to-GDP levels and debt servicing obligations that remain significantly higher than those of many similarly rated countries, even after recent debt restructuring and macroeconomic adjustments.