Treasury bills attract foreigners

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range

Foreigners have invested over US$ 152 million in Treasury Bills issued by the Sri Lankan Government after the defeat of LTTE terrorism Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardana told Parliament yesterday.

Responding to an adjournment motion moved by Gampaha District MP Sarana Gunawardana, the Minister said this shows the massive amount of international attention paid for the national program implemented by the Government to rebuild the country.

"The country had lost a massive amount of foreign exchange as a result of collecting ransom and taxes by the LTTE on money earned by migrant workers for the past 30 years.

They used this money to purchase weapons. But, with the proper war strategies followed by the Government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the three service commanders, we have shattered their dream forever,"the Minister said.