“Come invest with us” – message from Sri Lanka’s eastern region
Plans are underway to set up a Tourism Authority in the Eastern Province to boost tourism in that region.Chief Minister of the Eastern Province Naseer Ahamed said that plans are afoot to convert the Valaichchenai Paper Mills into a golf course in the near future. He also said that if more publicity is given to the Koneswaran Hindu Temple situated in Trincomlee, a historical and religious site, the potential to attract many more Indian tourists to Sri Lanka was a strong possibility.
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on Friday aimed at promoting the East as a tourism and investment destination, he said statues have already been enacted to set up a Tourism Authority in the Eastern Province which will come under his purview. “We hope to set up an internationally-recognised Hotel Training School to train students from Pakistan India, Maldives and rest of the region. Also there are tremendous opportunities to set up garment factories in the Eastern Province and I am willing to provide land to such investors.”
Referring to investment opportunities in the East in 2014, he said it did not materialize as foreign investors backed out due to various reasons.
“There were 280 foreign investors who made inquiries during that period and only 100 foreign investors visited the country to explore investment opportunities. However the investment climate that prevailed that time was not conducive for foreign investors,” he said adding that fortunately the President and the Prime Minister of the new government have taken a keen interest in promoting tourism in the Eastern Province.
“We believe the second investment forum for the Eastern Province which will be held next month (January) will have a huge impact. The political climate of the Eastern Province has changed with all political parties working together.” He said foreign investment never came in for the Eastern Province since 1990. “We have a huge challenge with 200,000 unemployed persons and 4000 graduates on the look-out for employment opportunities.This would be an ideal opportunity for foreign investors to invest in the Eastern Province.” he said.
The second investment forum will be held in January in Colombo aimed at attracting foreign business community to invest in the eastern province in areas such as industrial, agricultural, fisheries, livestock, tourism and in the infrastructure sectors. The topics to be discussed at the forum are infrastructure for Tourism, Agro-processing, hospitality industry, Creative Arts, finance for Tourism, Eco-tourism, etc. Senior Advisor to the Chief Minister, Chandra Mottotti said that it was a laudable and an innovative idea from the Chief Minister to suggest opening up of a Tourism Authority in the Eastern Province to attract foreign investment.
He said there are a number of small dotted islands surrounded by placid waters in the east that resemble the Maldives Island. “The Eastern Province also borders the hill country and one way of expanding the tourism sector was to invite international hoteliers and travel companies to invest in the Eastern Province.” He said the setting up of a hotel school to train hotel managers will attract students from countries in the region. There aren’t any hotel school to train hotel managers which has become vital necessity to man the big hotels in the country.
Private Secretary to the Chief Minister and the Director General of Investment in the East 2016 Secretariat, Samantha Abeywickrama said they were expecting around 500 investors both foreign and local participants to take part in the forum. Both foreign and the local missions in the country have been informed about the event. Executive Director of the Board of Investment (BOI), Duminda Ariyasinghe said the BOI has expertise to rectify problems that investors face in Sri Lanka. “There are 50 BOI companies that currently operate in Sri Lanka with 11,000 people and with Rs 33 billion worth of investments.”
Senior Partner – KPMG, Reyaz Mihular said foreign governments are now encouraging companies to invest in agriculture in foreign countries. “There are good opportunities for foreign investors to invest in agriculture projects in the Eastern Province.” He said if GSP + concessions are granted to Sri Lanka, factories shut down earlier could open and restart. It will also help to attract foreign investment even to put up out sourcing offices.He said the chief Minister has assured investors that he would help them to sort out any problems with regard to investments.