Business And Economy

Sri Lanka is one of the major exporter of tea in the world. Martketed under the brand name Ceylon Tea, Sri Lankan teas have achieved a reputation as the best in the world.
Other agricultural exports include spices, rubber and coconuts and more recently foliage plants and flowers. Though Sri Lanka still has a largely agrarian economy, all the requirement of wheat, and most of the rice and sugar requirements have to be imported.

Sri Lanka is rich in Mineral deposits such as Illemanite, Rutile, Graphite Epatite. Unfortunately the technology for the processing of these raw material is not commonly available in Sri Lanka. Hence most of the minerals are exported to the industrial countries as raw materials.
One industry that makes full use of local raw material is the ceramics industry. And Sri Lankan Ceramics are some of the finest in the world.
Large deposits of precious stones can be found In and around Ratnapura, the city of gems. And even though Sri Lanka does not possess diamond deposits, the low cost of labour has made Sri Lanka a centre for the processing of Diamonds.

Currently the industry that brings the biggest earnings of foriegn currency to Sri Lanka is the garment industry. The Association of Apperal Exporters' web site provides valuble information on apparels and their manufacturers

Lots of international companies such as NTT, Shell, and Caltex have made large investments in Sri Lanka, realising her potential for quick growth. Lots of investment trusts and funds also have invested heavily. Attracted by Sri Lanka's small but vibrant Stock Market.
Their is anoter institution the BOI, (Board of Investment) to promote foriegn investmet. Unfortunately this organisation is ruled by beaurocrats.

Please bookmark this page, it's due for a major update soon. Please see the what's new page for the latest additions to this site. This page was last updated on - Nov 11, 97

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