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The many development projects
in Sri Lanka under the Mahinda Randora Programme afford
many opportunities for foreign investors and entrepreneurs.
The door is open for you to invest in enterprises for
production of electrical and electronic goods, gems
and jewelry, motor vehicles, motor cycles, textiles
and garments, light engineering equipment, and to engage
in the fields of highways, housing, agro and aquatic
enterprises, communications and infrastructure development
projects.
This was said by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa addressing a well attended Trade, Investment
and Tourism Seminar in Beijing today (February 28),
as part of the President's State Visit to China mark
50 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The President added that, Sri Lanka
is a developing country; it is not developing as a nation
with closed doors. I should say that Sri Lanka is also
a state like your own, reaping the best features of
an open economy, having entered the path of development
with a large number of investors
who have come from many countries of the world.
I am happy to address you in Beijing
on this occasion when China and Sri Lanka are completing
50 years of diplomatic relations. There is a lasting
friendship between China and Sri Lanka, which I consider
more as a bond of very close relationship.
Arriving in Sri Lanka, we in the
Sri Lankan delegation didn’t feel we were strangers
here. That is because China is a country very close
to us. In many of our major cities, suburbs and provincial
townships we invariably find a Chinese restaurant with
the symbol of the dragon which is a token
of your culture.
When we travel along our roads we
very often see Chinese nationals busy working at building
and road construction sites displaying the name board
of a Chinese company.
It is due to the experience of having
dealings with the Chinese people over many years that
some of our people identify certain enterprises in our
country as more suited to be handled by Chinese.
I wish to tell you another interesting
story. The coming month of April is the festival season
of the Sinhalese and Tamil people of Sri Lanka. The
firecrackers crackers in the hands of children during
this season are called Cheena-patas . I think it is
a saying that has come to stay among our people, remind
that the Chinese people were inventors of gun powder.
Anyone visiting Sri Lanka in August will observe that
many Chinese kites are flying in our sky. It short,
it would be almost impossible to come across a Sri Lankan
who has not tasted a Chinese meal in a Chinese restaurant.
That is why China and its people didn't appear to us
as strangers to us.
Although in other countries there
are cities set apart for foreign investors, Sri Lanka
has not created such separate cities for the Chinese
people. This is because the Chinese engage in business
and industrial activities island-wide treating Sri Lanka
as their own country.
Sri Lanka is a developing country;
it is not developing as a nation with closed doors.
I should say that Sri Lanka is also a state like your
own, reaping the best features of an open economy, having
entered the path of development with a large number
of investors who have come from
many countries of the world.
As thousands of traders from all
directions of the world came to Sri Lanka along the
ancient Silk Route, many foreign investors come to Sri
Lanka today.. It is a pleasure to see that the Chinese
investments in Sri Lanka have exceeded US$ 1 million
today.
I state with responsibility that
a more conducive environment for investors to come in
large numbers to Sri Lanka has been created under the
programme of the Mahinda Chintana 10 Year Development
Vision. Last year we maintained an economic growth rate
of 8%. In the midst of many challenges
our export growth was over 8%. Similarly, our Stock
Exchange continues to show rapid growth. Over 500, 000
tourists came to Sri Lanka last year. Our beautiful
island is rapidly changing into a centre of attraction
for Chinese tourists. Besides that, we have succeeded
in bringing the security of the people and investors
to an excellent standard, when compared to what it was
several decades ago.
The latest sessions of the World
Finance Ministers Conference was held in Colombo. The
South Asian Games were also successfully completed in
Colombo to the approbation of Asian countries. The aid
group meeting with representatives of over 50 countries,
including China, was held in Galle,
the capital of Southern Province. Further, a grand exhibition
demonstrating the future industrial and economic development
of Sri Lanka under the 10 Year Development Plan was
held this month in the Bandaranaike Memorial International
Conference Hall, donated by your country; it is not
wrong to say from this exhibition which was attended
by over 21% of our population, the world would have
seen the future development of Sri Lanka with its peace
and security.
Under the Mahinda Randora National
Infrastructure Development Programme we are engaged
in a giant effort of enhancing our development by building
new power plants, habours, airports, express highways,
railways, new towns, and constructing irrigation networks.
The coal-based power plant being constructed in Puttalam
and the harbour earmarked to be constructed in Hambantota
with aid from your government are two major projects
under the Mahinda Randora Programme. These projects
will afford large investment opportunities for foreign
investors and entrepreneurs. While the Jathika Saviya,
Gama Neguma, and National Rural Development Programme
will carry out road, electricity, housing, water supply
projects, the Nenasala Programme will take computer
literacy and technology to the remote villages.
Sri Lanka has produced a strong labour
force through the modern education system that we have
expanded island-wide. The literacy rate of Sri Lanka
remains at 90.7%. This year alone over 15, 000 students
will enter university. More than 12, 000 students will
be admitted for technical education. Due to the academic
education and vocational training provided by these
institutions we are in possession of a skilled work
force employable in any establishment in the world.
There is a great demand for Sri Lankan labour in foreign
countries because they are equipped with the knowledge
and ability required for the modern world.
The door is open for you to invest
in enterprises for production of electrical and electronic
goods, gems and jewelry, motor vehicles, motor cycles,
textiles and garments, light engineering equipment,
and to engage in the fields of highways, housing, agro
and aquatic enterprises, communications and infrastructure
development projects.
Sri Lankan business community has
strong confidence in Chinese nationals for their rapid
rise in development. The rise of China with its great
commitment to progress is a pride to all Asians.
I am happy to state that the Silk
Route that opened the doors to trade with Sri Lanka
in the past are open again inviting you in the same
way today. If you come to our land along that route
you will see a new generation of Chinese entrepreneurs
owning large textile factories. They are the successors
of the older itinerant Chinese traders who went to our
remote villages selling textiles. I respectfully invite
you to come and join them.
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