Sri Lanka, July 6 -- Sri Lanka's return to upper-middle-income status has revived memories of an earlier promotion that proved short-lived, with the World Bank cautioning that the latest achievement remains vulnerable unless the country sustains reforms, strengthens growth and avoids the vulnerabilities that culminated in the 2022 economic crisis.

The World Bank reclassified Sri Lanka from lower-middle-income to upper-middle-income status with effect from 1 July after the country's Gross National Income (GNI) per capita rose to US$4,670 in 2025, marginally above the new threshold of US$4,636.

It is the second time Sri Lanka has crossed the threshold.

The first promotion came in July 2019 under the administration of President Maithripa...