Sri Lanka is determined to repay $3 billion in foreign loans by 2027, as planned – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
Hello Readers,
I have thoroughly researched the repayment of our debts, which is expected to reach 93.4 billion USD by June 2024, as planned for 2027.
The reason for this optimism is the projected total annual income for the year 2024, which is as follows:
Foreign Employment: Approximately $7 billion
*Exporting Manufactured Goods: Around $12.1 billion Tea Sales: Estimated at $1.24 billion
Tourism Industry: Roughly $4 billion
Other Dollar Cash Flows: Various sources contribute an additional $2 billion.
*Major exports include tea, coffee, gemstones, coconut, rubber, and herbal Ayurvedic products. World-famous Sri Lanka also exports crops like cinnamon, ilmenite, graphite, phosphate, karanda Mungu, cloves, nutmeg, and information technology related to work.
Achieving a remarkable annual income of $26.34 billion highlights our significant financial success and growth potential.
Total Annual Expenditure (2024)
- Government Spending: Approximately $15
- Debt Servicing: Around $5 billion.
- Infrastructure Development: Estimated at $3 billion.
- Social Services: Roughly $2 billion. Total Annual Expenditure: $25 Net Profit: $1.34 billion.
Foreign Loans Repayment Schedule (2027)
Sri Lanka plans to repay $3 billion in foreign loans by 2027.
Our flourishing Tourist Industry
Global Recognition: CEOWORLD Magazine has ranked Sri Lanka as the fifth best country to visit in 2024, highlighting its diverse offerings and unique experiences.
2024
Sri Lanka’s tourism revenue stands at an impressive $5 billion, driven by 2.3 million tourist arrivals. In just the first eight months of 2024, the industry has already generated over $2 billion in revenue.
After overcoming significant challenges, including the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the political and economic crises in 2022, Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is experiencing a remarkable resurgence.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) is committed to a bold long-term strategy to elevate tourist arrivals to 5 million and achieve an astounding $21.6 billion in revenue within five years. This strategy focuses on attracting high-end Travelers and significantly increasing the average spending per visitor to $4,000, positioning Sri Lanka as a top-tier travel destination.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka is poised to achieve an annual net profit exceeding $1.34 billion, effectively facilitating the repayment of scheduled foreign loans by 2027. With an impressive $26.6 billion projected revenue over the next five years, we are on a clear path to financial stability.
Given the current momentum in our tourism industry, we are confident that we will settle our total public debt even more quickly than anticipated. Sri Lanka is set to reclaim its status as one of the premier tourist destinations in the world, and the future looks exceptionally bright.
Did you know Sri Lanka is known as the “Nation of Laughing Men”?
It is remarkable that one can experience a variety of climates in Sri Lanka in a single day.