Sri Lanka’s per capita income will rise to $6,000 by 2016, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivaard Cabraal said in Doha.

The visiting official was making a presentation on ‘Sri Lanka’s Emerging Business Opportunities’ at a seminar organized by the Sri Lankan Business Council of Qatar.

The Central Bank Governor highlighted the growth in the country’s economy since the war on terrorism ended in 2009. The Government has embarked on a massive development programme, he said.

“It involves development of seaports, airports, manpower development, tourism and healthcare, and plans are also under way to ensure that poverty is totally eradicated from the country,” he explained.

The seminar was attended by a large number of representatives of Qatari Banks and, members of the Sri Lankan Business Council and Sri Lankan embassy officials including charge d’affaires Sitara Khan, who welcomed the gathering, reported the Gulf Time.

“At the beginning of the year, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani visited Sri Lanka for the first time with a high ranking delegation, and indicated Qatar’s willingness to invest in Sri Lanka. This has taken the relationship between the two countries to a new frontier,” said Sri Lankan Business Council president Lokitha Karavita.

The Central Bank Governor, on a four-day official visit to Qatar, is accompanied by a high level delegation that includes the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank and chief executive officers of five leading banks of Sri Lanka.