In 1977, Colombo gives up its economic policy etatist for an economic policy directed towards the market and a trade directed towards export.

The most dynamic sectors of Sri Lanka are now industries food, textiles and of clothing, telecommunications, the insurances and the banking environment.

In 2003, the agricultural productions constituted only 15% of exports (compared with the 93% of 1970), while textiles and clothing accounted for 63%. GDP developed withan average annual rate of 5,5% at the beginning of the Années 1990 until one period of dryness and deterioration of safety lowers the growth with 3,8% of 1996.

The economy rebounded in the years 1997 - 2000 with an average growth of 5,3%, but in 2001 the country underwent its first crisis, with a growth with -1,4%, which had with a combination of factors, in addition to the total deceleration, insufficient energy, serious budgetary problems, internal political problems. However, the growth went back to 4,0% in 2002 and 5,2% in 2003.

Some 800.000 Sri Lankais work abroad, including 90% in the the Middle East, and send to the country approximately 1 billion dollar per annum.

The fight of the Tamil Tigers of Eelam tamoul in north and the east for the autonomy of a territory Tamoul continues to be of all its weight on the development of the economy srilankaise.