‘We will help Lanka with open arms’

The visiting Bahrain Prime Minister, Sheikh Khailifa Bin Selman Al Khalid, gave an assurance to Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka that his country would help Sri Lanka with open arms in its efforts to rebuild and develop the economy in the aftermath of the defeat of terrorism, and his country would also request its friends in the Gulf region to help Sri Lanka similarly.

This pledge was made when the Bahrain Premier called on Mr. Wickramanayaka at the latter’s office in Colombo yesterday.

The Bahrain Prime Minister was accompanied by a high powered delegation which included the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Prime Minister Wickramanayaka while welcoming the delegation observed that they were visiting Sri Lanka at a momentous period in the country’s history.

He explained to the Bahrain Premier and his delegation that Sri Lanka was successful in defeating terrorism that bedeviled the country for nearly three decades.

Sri Lanka now faced with a bigger and more formidable challenge in rebuilding the country devastated by terrorism and recover the lost ground by developing the economy.

Sri Lanka’s economy suffered immensely and its tourism industry was affected particularly by terrorism. The Prime Minister emphasised that there was great potential in expanding and improving Sri Lanka’s tourist sector and Sri Lanka would welcome foreign investment in this area.

There were already offers of investing in Sri lanka’s hospitality sector from many foreign investors and Sri Lanka would certainly welcome investment in this sector from friendly Bahrain. There was also potential for investing in gem and jewellery sector which is well.