CHOGM, the ideal platform to showcase Lanka's progress - SLBA chairman

The upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) will bring an array of opportunities not only for the banking sector, but for the entire business community. Sri Lanka will come under the spotlight as over a 1,000 delegates are due to arrive in the country, Sri Lanka Banks' Association (SLBA) Chairman, N. Vasantha Kumar said.

This much awaited event will showcase the country's immense progress with the end of 30 years of terrorism.

"Sri Lanka has achieved a great deal within the past four years. It has achieved sustainable economic growth which will continue to shoot upwards in the future. Those visiting the country for this prestigious event can witness first-hand the transformation Sri Lanka has undergone since 2009," he said.

Kumar said that Sri Lanka has many attractions for foreign trade partnerships.

"Sri Lanka has been seen for decades as a supplier of raw materials. It is time we took steps to become a manufacturing country. It will open the doors for investment and economic development will accelerate. CHOGM is an ideal platform to showcase the investment potential of the country," he said.

SLBA, Secretary General, Upali de Silva said that the country, having a booming service sector, can offer its high quality knowledge workers to further promote and uplift the nation's status in the world.

"With our competitive pricing, we can expect a service sector boom. Our knowledge workers have proved to be second to none," he said.

de Silva said that hosting CHOGM will also encourage those who have left the country for better opportunities to return and serve their motherland.

"With the number of opportunities that will follow CHOGM, those who have left the motherland could come back and contribute to the the development of the country," said de Silva.

Banks could immensely benefit from the opportunities that will surface in investment and global trade through the networking of like-minded people within the Commonwealth nations, he said.