Sri Lanka Economy

Sri Lankan women work in a garment factory in Maharagama, on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. The end to Sri Lanka’s quarter century civil war brought hope that prosperity might soon take root on this nearly bankrupt island nation. Now the global economic downturn is threatening Sri Lanka’s recovery, which analysts say is a crucial part of securing a lasting peace. The pillars of Sri Lanka’s $40 billion economy, garments, remittances from the Middle East, and tourism, have all been hit by the global downturn. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)