Tackle corruption to boost FDI: UK official

By Charumini de Silva

Tackling corruption is key to boosting Foreign Direct Investment into Sri Lanka, UK Trade and Investment Head Gary Leslie asserted yesterday.

“The commitment to transparency and to tackling corruption enhances business and investor confidence, which is paramount in attracting FDI to the country,” Leslie said, after inaugurating the Sri Lanka operations of UK-based open source software firm Zaizi.

He said one of the most understated but most important elements of a rules based world order was a commitment to transparency and tackling corruption.Leslie added that the appointment of the new Government in Sri Lanka would result in a bilateral trade between the two countries rising to new heights.

“Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and UK has grown considerably and we hope that it would further strengthen in the coming years,” Leslie noted.