A visiting delegation from the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Convention, led by a Canadian MP, on Friday expressed their interest in investing in Sri Lanka at a press conference at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The delegation comprising 17 Sri Lankan Canadian industrialists told the media that they discussed with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena about it.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya who presided over the press conference said that the President, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker had welcomed the Canadian delegation’s investment interest.
He said President Wickremesinghe had invited them to explore investment opportunities in various sectors throughout the country, and map out their investment strategies. He said this would be a significant step forward in the process of national reconciliation.
State Minister Balasuriya said most of the Sri Lankan Canadian business magnates in the delegation had benefited from Sri Lanka’s free education and healthcare systems. The delegation said that they are exploring the most promising areas for investment, such as crop production, agro-processing, textile and garment, leather and leather products, sugar, cement, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, tourism, mining, hydropower, and digitalisation.
Canada-Sri Lanka Business Convention’s President Kula Sellathurai said they were awaiting an opportunity to contribute to the path of the prosperity of Sri Lanka.