Sri Lanka seen returning to growth by year-end, president says

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives with commanders of three forces to attend the country's 75th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo, Sri Lanka February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's economy is expected to grow again from the end of this year and the government wants the country to exit bankruptcy by 2026, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament on Wednesday.

The Indian Ocean island of 22 million people has been struggling with its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948, which has forced it to default on loans and seek a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.