Sri Lanka has wider investment opportunities, President Rajapaksa says

June 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka is branded as one of the best tourist destination in the world and it presents wider opportunities for new investments at present following the defeat of terrorism, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Addressing the 11th FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum at the Colombo Hilton this morning, the President said despite the global economic recession, Sri Lanka has maintained 6 percent annual economic growth from the 2005 to 2008.

Sri Lanka successfully faced the global economic downturn by implementing pragmatic monitory policies, the President said, adding that the international community has also accepted Sri Lanka’s success in economic development.

Highlighting the rapid development in many sectors including Civil Aviation and Ports Power and Energy, Infrastructure Development after the end of the war, the President said the per-capita income of the country has increased up to 2,000 US dollars. The government is targeting to double it within the next five years.

President Rajapaksa commenting on Sri Lanka’s Stock Market said the Colombo Stock Exchange has become the most successful share-market in the world.

His government is working hard to develop the country for all the communities to live in peace and to enhance religious and ethnic reconciliation in the country, the President asserted.

The FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum defines the economic and intellectual component of the annual IIFA Weekend. The forum is expected to present wider business opportunities between India and Sri Lanka.

During the event, President Rajapaksa presented CNBC-IIFA Global Leadership awards to Chairman of Cargills (Ceylon) Limited Ranjith Page, Chairman of MAS Holding Mahesh Amalean and Bollywood actor cum producer Anupam Kher.

Ministers Basil Rajapaksa and Laxman Yapa Abeywardena, Indian parliamentarian Dr. Sashi Tharoor, Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kantha, Chairperson of Lalit Suri Hospitality Group Ms. Jyotsna Suri, Governor of Sri Lanka Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Secretary to Ministry of Finance Dr. P.B Jayasundara and Eric Wickramanayaka of ERI were also present at the occasion.