Sri Lanka, Oct. 5 -- Sri Lanka's fuel import bill surged by 61.6% to $4.07 billion in the first eight months of this year, increasing the country's import expenditure on fuel by $1.55 billion compared to the same period last year, according to Central Bank of Sri Lanka data.

The sharp increase comes despite continued government efforts to manage fuel consumption and expenditure, with the latest figures showing that pressure on the import bill intensified rather than eased as the year progressed.

Sri Lanka spent $2.52 billion on fuel imports between January and August 2025, meaning the corresponding expenditure this year represents an additional $1.55 billion outflow in just eight months.

The increase also accelerated in recent months, ...