'Lanka needs positive thinking entrepreneurs'
The amended bill on dual citizenship will soon be implemented
introducing a residency scheme for foreign nationals who want to work or
start businesses in Sri Lanka, said Defence Secretary Gotabaya
Rajapaksa.
He was delivering the keynote speech at SLASSCOM CXO Lunch Briefing
in Colombo last week. He said that this is similar to the system
followed by countries such as USA. He said the new laws to change Sri
Lanka's dual citizenship process are with the legal draftsman's office,
but applications of those who had applied earlier were being processed.
 Speaking on urban infrastructure development in Sri Lanka, he said
that Sri Lanka needs positive thinking entrepreneurs to catch up on lost
opportunities. Local industries should try to be on par with the fast
development in the other sectors.
The tourism industry is booming and several international events such
as Commonwealth meetings will be held in Sri Lanka. Reputed global hotel
companies are investing in the country on mega projects.
Sri Lanka's IT BPO industry has much potential and already Sri Lankan
companies have transformed Sri Lanka into a well-known destination for
the IT BPO industry.
“We have to exploit new opportunities for the professionals in IT,
accounting, medical and legal fields.
The government has invested heavily on large-scale development
projects. As a result cities have improved providing better facilities
for people and businesses. This situation will encourage local and
foreign investors and even expatriate Sri Lankan professionals to come
back.
There are several Colombo city development projects being implemented
by the UDA. The World Bank funded greater Colombo city development
project has invested in the rehabilitation of the drainage system of the
city, flood prevention, Beira lake rehabilitation, development of
Beddegana park in Kotte, improve facilities of Municipalities, marsh
land protection and development of eco-friendly cities.
A new lake has been created in Kotte by the Land Reclamation and
Development Department and work on the Veeressa Ganga project is under
way. All these activities will make greater Colombo a pleasant area, he
said.
With the completion of these development projects, thousands of
people today use the open areas, parks, walking and cycle tracks daily.
While developing Colombo, similar development projects have been
implemented in other cities such as Gampaha. The standard of living of
the people in these cities is improving gradually.
He said that walls around the buildings with ancient archaeological
value and hidden from the public eye, have been demolished and turned
into public places.
Buildings with the rich architectural heritage of Sri Lanka, some of
them belonging to the colonial era such as the Dutch hospital, Colombo
racecourse have been turned into commercial places. The former auditor
general's office building is under renovation. Galle and Jaffna forts
have been renovated.
Speaking on the removal of unauthorised settlements in Colombo,
Rajapaksa said that all those who were removed were living on state
owned lands and better quality alternative houses will be provided to
them in housing schemes close to their original places of residence.
Therefore, they can do their present jobs and their children can attend
the same schools.
With the completion of these projects more lands will be available in
the Colombo city.
Rajapaksa invited the business community to come up with new business
ideas and branch out their business into rural areas.
Entrepreneurs have called for the creation of a common place for
knowledge industries such as IT BPO, electronic, apparel design, nano
technology Rajapaksa said that innovative ideas of the industry people
can be considered and already the UDA had an initiative in Colombo and a
knowledge park has been proposed in Hambantota, he said.
- GW
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