Sri Lanka Feb trade deficit widens to $317.2 mln

COLOMBO, April 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's trade deficit widened to $317.2 million in February from $147 million in the same month last year, as imports of consumer goods outpaced exports led by tea and rubber products, the central bank said on Tuesday.

The country's exports in February grew 9.7 percent to $642.6 million, compared with $585.8 million a year ago. Imports rose 31 percent to $959.8 million in February, compared with $732.8 million a year earlier.

The trade deficit has widened to $937 million in the first two months of 2008, from $447.3 million during the same period last year.