Sri Lanka, better investment centre, location for international and oceanic trade

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

Sri Lanka, which has been placed on a rapid development track, is a better investment centre and location for international and oceanic trade, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a message to the 12th Asia Oceania Regional Meeting and Ports Forum of International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) which commenced at the BMICH yesterday.

The President in his message said that Sri Lanka is honoured by the IAPH decision to hold this forum on ocean trade.

"Sri Lanka has had a long history as the centre of East - West ocean trade in the past being a key port on the Silk Route. Today, with Sri Lanka's strategic location in the ocean routes of Asia and Oceania, a forum of this nature could contribute much to the socio - economic development of our region, as well as make an important impact on efforts to ease the current global economic crisis," the President's message said.

"You are here today, with a measure of confidence in Sri Lanka that has not been diminished by false propaganda that is currently spread by those who are trying to prevent investment flowing to our country. Your presence here today shows the failure of the efforts of those who still support the agenda of separatist terror that prevented development in Sri Lanka for more than three decades. You are a strong vote of confidence in Sri Lanka as a good investment centre and location for international and oceanic trade," the President's message read by Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation Dr Sarath Amunugama added.

The message added:" It is my belief that the large international presence at this forum and the very large participation at the International Air Freight Shipping and Logistics Exhibition that is being held together with this forum, is a clear indication of the new awareness in the world of the new investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.

"We are aware that in the keen competition for development related investment transport and logistics play a very important role. This has led us to give the highest priority to the most rapid and effective development of transport in every aspect. You will see this in our development of roads and highways, bridges, expressways ports and airports.

"These developments are carried out in keeping with a development plan that seeks to make Sri Lanka the key logistics centre in the South Asian region. Towards this end, we have established three investment and industrial zones associated with five ports and harbours in the country.

"Similarly, we have commenced the establishment of a fully consolidated logistics centre in the Hambantota district with the combined activity of the Hambantota Port and the international airport being constructed there.

"It is significant that after the conclusion of a 30 year battle against terror that had the most adverse impact on our country, Sri Lanka is now moving in the direction of rapid development under conditions of peace and political stability."