Sri Lanka open for business, CB Governor tells world

Everything in place now for take off:

We will give a strong message to the international community that Sri Lanka is open for business, Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal told the BBC in an interview.

"We have brought peace back to the country, there's hope, there's expression of continuous confidence in the economy," he said and emphasized that Sri Lanka has brought its macro economic fundamentals into good shape.

"Everything is in place now for the take off," he said and pointed out that the international and local business community recognize this.

"They know that we are open for business. They know that we have the potential to move forward. It is just a matter of time when the boom takes place," the Governor said.

"The country's reserves have come to a level where it is substantial. We are able to now manage finances in a very confident manner. We intend progressing with the IMF support in the future as well. That arrangement will be going on for the next 18 months. We will be projecting the confidence of the IMF being with us plus the new features of the Sri Lankan economy that are emerging," the Governor said. Cabraal stressed that Sri Lanka is meeting its economic potential.

"There's a six plus growth, our inflation is down, reserves are up, people are investing in our country. The investing community has seen the investment potential of Sri Lanka and they are coming in. The infrastructure development process is taking place in the country which is the highest ever in our history," he added.