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

"We have brought peace back to the country, there's hope, there's expression of continuous confidence in the economy", he continued 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 of CB further stated.

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, stated the Governor of the Central Bank.

He stressed that Sri Lanka is meeting its economic potential. "There's a 6 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.

Meanwhile in an interview with the Financial Times yesterday (08 Feb), the Central Bank Governor stated that Sri Lanka plans to spend USD1bn (EUR730m, £639m) a year to bring the northern Tamil-dominated parts of the country "up to scratch" following decades of civil war that ended last year.

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http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0a9f6e50-151a-11df-ad58-00144feab49a.html