Sri Lanka’s trade deficit widened by 8 percent to US$ 782.8 million reports Colombo Page.
The widening trade deficit came despites an increase in exports in 2016, which sow exports increase to US866.3 million.
Sri Lanka’s widening trade deficit happened amidst a modest depreciation of the strength of the Sri Lankan rupee.
Reducing the trade deficit has one of Sri Lanka’s key priorities, alongside regaining the GSP+ trade concessions to aid Sri Lanka’s exports.