REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/File PhotoCOLOMBO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka on Tuesday lifted a ban on imports of trucks and other heavy vehicles for the first time since March 2020, according to a gazette notification. Sri Lanka has been gradually easing import restrictions, which were imposed as the country's economy tottered from a financial crisis caused by a severe shortage of dollars. Heavy vehicles including buses, trucks and tankers can now be imported, according to a government notification issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the finance minister. However, import bans on passenger vehicles including cars will remain in place. Sri Lanka's economy is expected to shrink about 2% this year, according to central bank estimates, after a 7.8% contraction last year.

---

Persons: Dinuka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Uditha Jayashinghe, Jacqueline Wong, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Thomson Locations: Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sri