The Gross Official Reserves of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka crossed the US$ 9 billion mark on Friday (August 8) for the first time ever in the country’s history, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.

By end May 2014, Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves amounted to US dollars 8.8 billion, equivalent to 5.9 months of imports, while total foreign assets which include foreign assets of the banking sector amounted to US dollars 10.2 billion.

Sri Lanka aims to increase its gross reserves to US $ 10.0 billion by end-2014.