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Sri Lanka to see 5.3 pct growth for next 3 years despite challenges: report

Xinhua, June 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sri Lanka is expected to see 5.3 percent economic growth in the next three years despite challenges, latest Global Economic Prospects report released by the World Bank showed on Thursday.

"Although facing monetary and fiscal tightening, growth of the island will be motived by infrastructure spending financed with sizable FDI flows as part of the governments Port City and Western Province Megapolis initiatives. Recent restraint imports policy will also contribute to growth in this year, and both 2017 and 2018," the World Bank said in its report.

The report notes that, in Sri Lanka, expansionary fiscal policy has contributed to the increased deficit and debt levels with government debt levels above 70 percent of GDP. Moreover, rising core inflation and high credit growth have compelled the central bank to tighten policy.

However, the report said that Sri Lanka is also making efforts to prevent the deterioration in public finances, including the increase of the VAT rate from 11 to 15 percent.

The report suggested Sri Lanka to take such measures as strengthening public financial management, broadening the tax base, reducing exemptions and improving tax administration against the backdrop of a fragile global economy. Endit