Malaysia’s Khazanah eyes SL investment
A high powered team from Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah), the strategic investment fund of the Malaysian Government, was in Sri Lanka for discussions with key government officials, Kabir Hashim, Minister Public Enterprise Development said. He told the Business Times that Khazanah entrusted to hold and manage state commercial assets and to undertake strategic investments on behalf of the nation will be looking to invest in projects here. Explaining more on the 3-day visit of the 4-member team, an official at the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development said that Deputy Chairman Khazanah, Tan Sri Dato Nor Mohamed Yakoop led this delegation.
Khazanah Head of Investments, Dominic Silva, Head of Special Projects Mohammed Izam Ashan and Head Khazanah India Office Chintha Bhagath comprised the rest of the team. An official said that Mr. Hashim, Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne, Suresh Shah, newly-appointed chairman of the Public Enterprise Board and other Ministry officials participated at the session where in-depth presentations were made by the Malaysian team on how their institution is operated. He said that the Ministry officials had made presentations on four state owned enterprises (SOE). “They made presentations on the progress made so far and the current status at the Colombo Hilton,
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, SriLankan Airlines and the Lanka Hospitals,” he said adding that representatives from all four institutions were also present. He said that Mr. Hashim and his team will decide on how to progress by next month with inputs from the Prime Minister. The Khazanah officials had expressed interest in investing in some entities, he added. Khazanah, which has a 10 per cent stake in John Keells Holdings through Broga Hill Investment (Special Purpose Vehicle of Khazanah), is involved in sectors such as power, telecommunications, finance, healthcare, aviation, infrastructure, leisure and tourism, and property, amongst others.