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Special session for Lanka at World Economic Forum

Sri Lanka for the first time has received the honour of being accorded a special session at the prestigious World Economic Forum which will be held in Davos Switzerland in a further index of the progress achieved in the peace process.

The headway made in the peace process - confirmed by Japan's decision to host a major donor conference in June-is likely to bring the country substantial benefits at the Davos session to be held within the next few days.

Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs and Sri Lanka's chief negotiator with the LTTE, has been invited to address four different sessions of the Forum in Davos. The first of these is an informal gathering of political leaders from different regions of the world, including Heads of State, on Friday.

On Sunday he will be one of five selected panellists to speak on the economic significance of the diaspora with regard to conflict resolution.

The Sri Lankan peace process will receive a sharp focus at the World Economic Forum as a case study in the transition from war to peace, on Monday.

Minister Peiris will address the Business Interaction Group on Sri Lanka on January 27.

As many as 40 of the world's leading companies have accepted the invitation by the Sri Lankan government to attend a comprehensive briefing on the investment opportunities available in the country with the return of peace.

The central theme of this session apart from the importance of grants or concessionary loans by governments is the sustainability of economic development through vigorous participation by the private sector.

Minister Peiris, will be assisted by Chairman and Director General of the Board of Investment, Arjuna Mahendran.

He will deal in particular with the unique opportunities available in Sri Lanka for the rebuilding of infrastructure in highways, irrigation systems, telecommunications and the power sector.

Among the companies attending will be Coca-Cola company of the USA, Damen Shipyards of the Netherlands, Gaz de France, SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance Holding of Switzerland, Petronas of Malaysia, Hong Kong Exchange and Clearning, Marsh Supermarkets of the USA, the Rothschild Banque of France, Siemens of Germany and several leading Indian companies including Bajaj, Jet Airways, Triveni Engineering and Industries, Godrej Industries and Mahindra & Mahindra.

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