Sri Lanka external trade expands in September: Central Bank

Nov 07, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's exports rose 0.5 percent, to 903 million US dollars in September 2014 from a year earlier with largest contribution from textiles and garments followed by coconut and printing industry products, official data showed. In September worker remittances (exports of labour) rose 3.1 percent to 575 million US dollars, and tourism earnings rose 16.8 percent to 152 million US dollars.

In the nine months to September exports up 13.0 percent to 8,288.2 million US dollars, imports up 5.4 percent to 14,222.3 million US dollars and the trade gap declined 3.6 percent.

Worker remittances rose 9.1 percent to 5,089.7 million US dollars in the nine months and tourism earnings rose 31.4 percent to 1,599.7 million US dollars.

Long term loans obtained by the government during the year to end September 2014 amounted to US dollars 1,232.5 million, compared to US dollars 1,307.0 million during the corresponding period in 2013.

Net inflows to the Government securities market from January to end September 2014 amounted to US dollars 4410.6 million, which comprised net inflows to Treasury bills and Treasury bonds amounting to US dollars 1,610.4 million and US dollars.

Foreign Investments in the Colombo Stock Exchange