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The Sri Lanka High Commission in UK organised the visit of a UK
Investment delegation to Sri Lanka comprising five senior
representatives of Companies during 2 – 6th September 2010. The
aim of the delegation was to explore investment possibilities in
Sri Lanka especially in the field of leisure and port
development.
The delegation is part of the promotional efforts undertaken by
the Sri Lanka High Commission to promote UK trade, investment
and tourism to Sri Lanka with particular focus on attracting
investment for mega development projects in the newly liberated
North & Eastern Provinces. There is an increasing interest and
growing awareness in UK on business opportunities in Sri Lanka.
The UK remains Sri Lanka’s second largest export, investment and
tourist destination. The UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) with whom
the Mission maintains a close liaison has recently published an
extremely positive and comprehensive report titled “Post
Conflict Business Opportunities in Sri Lanka”” highlighting
sectors such as infrastructure, tourism, power, education
training and ICT which shows the greatest potential for UK
companies to engage in Sri Lanka. The Report considers Sri Lanka
as “ a base to access the wider region of India and Pakistan”
through the existing Free Trade Agreements with these countries
and urges UK business to view Sri Lanka as a “long-term business
prospect”.
The UK investment delegation comprised representatives of SAS
Luxmarina, including their CEO, which is a significant entity in
the port management, design and construction, maritime services
worldwide including on the French Riviera, Qatar, Bahrain,
Lebanon, UAE and Monaco. Other members of the delegation
included representatives of Campbell Gray Hotels, which is in
the luxury hotel industry with hotels in London ( Aldwych and
Dukes), Carlisle Bay in Antigua and Le Gray in Beirut and others
in the financial sector.
The delegation has shown keen interest in investing in mega
projects in Sri Lanka especially in the sectors of leisure and
port developments targeting high spending tourists and luxury
marine yacht industry.
The programme for the visiting delegation was arranged by the
Sri Lanka High Commission in association with the Department of
Commerce, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and included
meetings with Hon. Minister of Economic Development, Hon. Deputy
Minister of Finance, Secretary to Defence and government
officials followed by site visits to eastern coast, Hambantota
and Trincomalee
High Commission of Sri Lanka
London, UK
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