Sri Lanka, Aug. 2 -- Sri Lanka's fuel import bill surged to over USD 3.1 billion in the first half of this year, a jump of nearly 60% from the same period in 2025.

That's according to the Central Bank's latest External Sector Bulletin, which shows fuel now accounts for more than 25% of the country's total import spending. Of the USD 2.6 billion increase in overall imports this year, fuel alone contributed close to USD 1.2 billion, nearly half of all import growth.

The impact on the trade balance has been dramatic. The trade deficit for the first six months of the year has ballooned to nearly USD 5.5 billion, up 68% from USD 3.3 billion in the same period last year. In June alone, the deficit widened to USD 828 million, compared to USD...