Sri Lanka’s vibrant showpiece commercial + tourism hubs under spotlight

Monday, 24 February 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Daily FT-Colombo Uni MBA Alumni Association’s Five Hubs Forum tomorrow First impressions matter and the country’s commercial landscape and tourism are critical to ensure a lasting and impressive sentiment for both first-time visitors as well as new foreign investors. Developing and positioning Sri Lanka as a commercial hub and an attractive tourist destination is an integral part of the Government’s five hubs strategy. The commercial hub profile is quite vast and encompasses urban development and improved lifestyles, as well as financial services and international business. Tourism, which is one of the strongest industries of Sri Lanka, has been added to the five hubs strategy so as to ensure continued impetus.

Post-war Sri Lanka has already seen a landmark change in the city landscape. There are unprecedented new developments on the cards in the residential, shopping entertainment and leisure sectors. These plans are not confined to the city or Colombo alone but encompass the entire nation. The Daily FT and Colombo University MBA Alumni Association organised full-day forum on five hubs tomorrow at the Hilton Colombo via an expert panel of public and private sector leaders will endeavour to highlight the progress so far and potential to make Sri Lanka a true commercial and tourism hub. The one-hour session slated from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. will be a multi-sectoral panel with Urban Development Authority Director General Nihal Fernando making the main presentation. The panel includes Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka CEO Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar, Citrus Leisure Plc Chairman Prema Cooray, Laugfs Holdings Ltd. Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya, EAP Holdings Ltd. Executive Deputy Chairman Mano Tittawella and JKH Vice President and Head of Brand Marketing Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Dileep Mudadeniya. These leaders bring a wealth of experience and expertise to crystallise the country’s aspirations to become a commercial and tourism hubs. Participants at the session will get an opportunity to be updated with latest plans by the UDA as well as the business potential for commercial and tourism hubs. The five hubs forum will be kicked off by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at 8:30 a.m., and keynote will be by Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal whilst Special Guest P. Tewari Head, Competitive Industries Global Practice, The World Bank Group, Singapore, will also make a presentation. For registration/tickets for the commercial + tourism hubs or full-day forum which also focuses on other hubs – maritime, aviation, knowledge and energy – please contact Shanthini on 0766869269. Tickets are available at No. 26B, Retreat Road (adjoining Holy Family Convent), Bambalapitiya from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Email: [email protected].