Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that he very patiently requests Sri Lankan exporters to bring back their dollars in foreign countries and invest them in Sri Lanka.

The government is prepared to bring in any legislation needed for this and if these dollars are brought into Sri Lanka while foreign interest rates are less than 01 per cent, they could obtain a higher interest of 4.5 to 6.00 per cent in Sri Lanka, said the Finance Minister.

He further added, “But remember, we make this patient request as a government. If these dollars are arbitrarily in foreign countries then do not make us question why they are overseas.”

The government has by now called for proposals from investment banks to borrow up to USD 500 million on stable or floating interest rates and maturing in three or more years.