TABLE-Sri Lanka's 2009 trade deficit narrows 52.5 pct yr/y

COLOMBO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's trade deficit fell
52.5 percent to $2.8 billion in 2009 from $5.9 billion a year
earlier, the central bank said on Tuesday.

(in millions of dollars)

2009 2008
Exports 7,084.5 8,110.6
Imports 9,883.2 14,008.0
Balance of trade -2,798.6 -5,897.4

- In 2008, Sri Lanka posted a record trade deficit,
compared with $3.66 billion in 2007.

- The 2009 deficit is the lowest since 2005

- Gross official reserves including the foreign reserves
kept with Asian Clearing Union (ACU) were at a record high of
$5.4 billion.
(Reporting by Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Jan
Dahinten)