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| Wednesday, 3 September 2003 |
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by Manjula Fernando The construction of the proposed Kandy-Colombo expressway which is expected to usher in economic renaissance to that part of the country, will start shortly. The agreement for the construction between the Malaysian and Sri Lankan Governments will be signed during the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's official tour to Malaysia next week, Industrial Development Minister Prof.G.L.Peiris said yesterday. The Premier will be in Malaysia on September 9 and 10 on a two day official tour where he will meet several government leaders. Minister Peiris who was here after a major investment seminar attended by 700 leading business people in Malaysia last week, said the Sri Lankan Peace process has helped boost confidence among Malaysian investors who expressed interest in the country's infrastructure development. "This event was the most successful investment promotion seminar the country has held in several years. Their degree of enthusiasm was so high," said Prof.Peiris at the yesterday's special media briefing at the Information Department. Many leading Malaysian investors had been keen on projects involving roads and highways, telecommunication, irrigation, power and energy and ports development. "They had always been conscious of the inherent strength of the country, the advantages due the country's global positioning and the benefits flowing from the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, the quality of our human resources and highly developed administrative, banking, legal and financial systems. But the war had been a major roadblock for large scale investment in the past." He said the ceasefire agreement which had continued for an uninterrupted 20 months had been a major confidence builder among investors. The full house at the KL investment forum was ample testimony. Prof.Peiris was accompanied by Deputy Finance Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Trade Minister Ravi Karunanayake and a team of 45 local business delegates. |
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