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Colombo, Nov 3 (PTI) Sri Lanka’s external sector recorded a current account deficit in September due to the ongoing surge in car imports, the central bank here has said.

This follows a streak of current account surplus from January to August this year, according to a statement by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued over the weekend.

“The merchandise trade deficit recorded a year-on-year expansion in September 2025 as import expenditure exceeded USD 2 billion, primarily driven by a surge in vehicle imports," the statement said.

Vehicle imports totalled USD 286 million in September, with cumulative vehicle imports reaching USD 1.3 billion in the first nine months of the year, it said.

Sri Lanka resumed car imports in February after a five-year hiatus. Imports we

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