Development drive:

President to meet expats

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will hold discussions with Sri Lankan expatriates on their contribution to development as part of a special program which educates the expatriates on possible investment areas.

Special arrangements for this meeting are being made through the Sri Lankan missions abroad, a press release said yesterday. President Rajapaksa will address the Sri Lankan expatriates at the meeting on November 14 followed by a workshop on November 15 at the BMICH which provides an opportunity for expatriates to meet with leaders of Sri Lanka’s financial and investment institutions.

The program aims at using the knowledge, entrepreneurship and financial support of the Sri Lankan expatriates for them to be actively involved in the development process of the country.

Sri Lankans living all over the world as well as representatives of organizations run by them (Buddhist and other religious organizations, welfare organizations and other Sri Lankan organizations) are invited to examine the current situation of the country, be aware of the development project currently under way and are to be commenced in the future as well as to identify areas of development where they can participate in.

The President’s initiative will result in creating opportunities for Sri Lankans to contribute to various areas of investment.

This is also an opportunity to increase friendship and cooperation between counterparts as well as an opportunity to create awareness on Sri Lanka to the outside world.

In the President’s Address to the Nation in the immediate aftermath of the country’s liberation from terrorism, and also during the 61st Independence Day speech, President Rajapaksa said that an opportunity has been created for all Sri Lankans who left the country due to terrorist activities to come back and contribute for the development of their Motherland.

The Government has recognized the legitimate grievances of the Tamil people in terms of socio-economic requirements and has already begun programs to address these needs.

For that the Government has now begun to receive the support of Tamils living in Sri Lanka and abroad. This program also hopes to give an overview of the Nagenahira Navodaya program, whereby the people of the East have progressed socially and economically while achieving political freedom. It will also create awareness of the Uthuru Vasanthaya program where resettlement and development of infrastructure will be detailed. The program will give an opportunity for expatriates to explore investment opportunities in the North and East. Another aim of this program is to commend all Sri Lankans who supported the Government in its war against terrorism.

This program is jointly organized by the Presidential Secretariat and the Foreign Ministry coordinated by Director, Presidential Media Coordination/Minister Councillor, Sri Lankan Embassy in Italy Chandrapala Liyanage.