18.9.2008
Colombo News Desk

The Department of Census and Statistics say the Government has been able to maintain a higher economic growth rate of 7 per cent in the second of this year in the midst of humanitarian operations against terrorism in the North and numerous natural and man-made calamities.

Director-General of the Department Suranjana Vidyaratne says higher agricultural production was witnessed due to an increase in agricultural activities in the liberated Eastern Province.

The growth in the Agricultural Sector has been 7.4 per cent. In the Industrial and Service Sector , the growth rate is 6.9 per cent.

The Director General at a media briefing in Colombo on Wednesday further said the construction sector has witnessed a growth of 9.7 per cent. She added progress in the transportation and communication sectors have directly attributed to the increase in productivity in the service sector.