Tourism, agriculture areas of interest:

Malaysia seeks investment opportunities in Sri Lanka

by P. Krishnaswamy

A 40-member Malaysian trade delegation that visited Sri Lanka recently has shown a keen interest in investing in tourism and agriculture , especially in the former war-torn Northern Province, Vice President, Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIA), D. Easwaran who is also a prominent businessman and Honorary Consul to Mauritius told the Sunday Observer.

The trade delegation which comprised lawyers, investment advisors and leading Malaysian businessmen assessed the ground situation to invest in Sri Lanka and held discussions with the Board of Investment (BOI), the Sri Lankan Chamber of Commerce and Ministers on tax concessions and other facilities that are being extended by the Government to investors. Finding everything as conducive to investment and the situation favourable to investor confidence, the delegation decided to hold a follow-up meeting shortly in Colombo, Easwaran said. The delegation arrived in Colombo on the request of GOPIO Malaysia while GOPIO Sri Lanka coordinated the delegation's itinerary, meetings and consultations, Easwaran said. Representatives of Malaysian businessmen who are early migrants from the Northern Province were also among the members of the delegation, he said.

A meeting which the trade delegation held with Easwaran in the chair at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel and attended by the Sri Lankan business community was addressed by Deputy Minister of Economic Development and CWC President Muthu Sivalingam, BOI President Jayampathy Bandaranayake, Attorney General, Mohan Peiris, Vice President of the National Chamber of Commerce Asoka Hettigoda, Managing Director, Jetwing Ltd, Hiran Cooray and Vice President of the National Chamber of Industries, Tissa Jayaweera.