MONETABRIEF – Sri Lanka's petroleum product exports have grown 52 percent in the nine months to September, to 1,094 million US dollars as oil prices rose, official data showed.
In the month of September alone Sri Lanka exported 129 million US dollars of petroleum products up 129 percent from a year earlier.
Sri Lanka's key petroleum exports include aviation fuel and bunkers.
Sri Lanka also exports some lubricants.
Sri Lanka's petroleum imports also grew 51 percent to 4,487 million dollars.
Net petroleum imports were 3,392 million dollars.
Sri Lanka's central bank busted the rupee in 2026 from 309 to 330 levels as oil prices went up, by dishonoring notes (excess liquidity) it had created by purchasing dollars in earlier months, monetizing a balance of payments surplus.
Though an 'external shock' was blamed, rates were hiked 100 basis points, admitting to a monetary policy error.
Over 2025 the rupee relentlessly debased from 300 to 309 to the US dollar with similar tactics. (Colombo/Nov03/2026)