Sri Lanka not averse to using Indian Rupee as common currency: Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka's President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said his country is not opposed to using Indian Rupee as a common currency, much like the US dollar. He made the remark while addressing the Indian CEO Forum this week, reports NDTV.

This remark comes days ahead of Wickremesinghe's first official visit to India.

"It makes no difference to us if India (the Indian rupee) becomes a common currency. We will have to figure out how to go about it. We must become more open to the outside world", Wickremesinghe said in response to the chair of the Forum, TS Prakash, who in his address had called for the enhanced use of the Indian rupee in the Sri Lankan economy.

"The world is evolving and India is undergoing rapid development, particularly under Prime Minister Modi's leadership", he added.

"Once we complete debt restructuring our focus will shift towards a comprehensive growth agenda. This entails a massive overhaul of our economy, legal framework and systems aligning our path with that of India," Wickremesinghe said.

/KN/