SL on course to attain 8.5 pc growth
Rasika SOMARATHNA
Sri Lanka is on course to achieve an economic growth of around 8.5
percent this year, External Affairs Minister Prof.G.L. Peiris told the
diplomatic community in Colombo yesterday.
He said that the economy had shown a growth of 7.9 percent in the
first quarter with the projected growth at the end of the year being 8.5
percent. “The prognosis for the rest of the year is very sound,” he
added.
Predicting further impressive strides in the field of economy, the
minister said that the country’s foreign reserves had risen to an
unprecedented US $ eight billion plus.
The poverty has diminished to eight from 12 percent and the
unemployment rate has come down to five percent. The inflation remains
stable, he added.
The minister pointed out that the end of the conflict and rapid
development taking place in the North and East had contributed immensely
to enhancing Sri Lanka’s overall economic growth.
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