Nearly US$ 900 million was invested in Sri Lankan Treasury Bonds and Bills this week, indicating the confidence expressed by the international community, Export Development and International Trade Minister G.L. Peiris, said yesterday.

Addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the Parliamentary complex, he said that the financial inflow, which took place between Monday and Wednesday, worked out to about one third of the loan given by the IMF.

Foreign exchange reserves have now risen to US$ 3 billion. This means there would be more money for investments and job creation. The private sector too would benefit, Peiris said.

"We no longer have to depend solely on the IMF. There will also be extra funds to spend on peoples welfare."

He said that the international community was impressed, because Sri Lanka by defeating terrorism had done what no other country could do. "There is enthusiasm among them, to find out how we were able to achieve what others couldn’t."

The arrest of K. Pathmanathan, considered the LTTE chief, after the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran, signifies the dismantling of the financial and communication network of the "Tigers". It has also set in motion a process of disintegration within the organisation, Peiris said.