Srilanka, Feb. 21 -- The local Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector will need to step up its efforts to tap international markets, as the government aims to increase its contribution to Sri Lanka's exports to 12-15 percent over the next 2-3 years.

About 86 percent of Sri Lanka's exports contribute less than 4.4 percent to the national export revenue. Despite accounting for half of the country's GDP, the SME sector's contribution to exports remains negligible.

"So, our government plans to increase the SME sector contribution to more than 12 to 15 percent in the next 2-3 years. That is why the new government is planning to scale up the medium category to the next level and the micro level to the medium level etc. So that is our plan....