CCC contributes to economic development:

Environment conducive for investments, tourism

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

A new era has begun after the three-decade war in Sri Lanka. This does not mean that Sri Lanka is above other countries, but in an equal position.

The environment is now conducive for the country’s effort to encourage investment and tourism, Ambassador for Japan in Sri Lanka Kunio Takahashi told the 170th Annual General Meeting of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) in Colombo on Monday.

It is important to address the issues relating to investment. We should not jeopardize the investment climate. It is necessary to build a private-public think tank as in India and Korea. The country has a substantial pool of retired public servants and it should be capitalized. It is encouraging to note the positive signals for tourism. This is a beautiful country and has much to offer tourists, he said.

The CCC is the go between the Government and economic development. It has contributed immensely for the economic development while promoting healthy competition, he said.

The global financial crisis affected many countries and Sri Lanka too was among them. However, the country recovered to a larger extent. It promises a bright economic outlook for the country. Japan is Sri Lanka’s long standing friend and the largest donor country. Japan will extend continued support for development programs, he said. The CCC’s newly elected Chairman, Dr. Aura Ekanayake said, “We are the business community of the country and our legitimate business is the conduct of business.

That is the creation of wealth, primarily for jobs, food, health and shelter and thereafter for all other wants. This is something that only we in the private sector can do.

The Government can only facilitate the creation of wealth by creating the enabling environment via physical, social and institutional infrastructure, law and order and above all peace by taking away a part of the wealth we create”.

The country needs to take a quick, deep and honest reflection of the past, learn the lessons and act fast to never repeat the mistakes we have made during the last three decades.

An honest and deep reflection of past events and their causes, point out a malady which has affected all of us, successive Governments, business community and the civil society-it is a severe myopia, he said.