Thursday May 07, 2026
Thursday May 07, 2026
Thursday, 7 May 2026 05:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka is looking to deepen economic engagement with India through new investments in technology, manufacturing, and strategic infrastructure, following high-level discussions between Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunneththi and a delegation from the Indian CEO Forum.
According to a post shared by the Minister on social media, the meeting held on Tuesday focused on promoting Indian investments in Sri Lanka, whilst strengthening bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries.
Among the key areas discussed were the identification and fast-tracking of five priority investment projects considered urgent for Sri Lanka’s industrial and economic development. The discussions also centred on promoting Sri Lanka’s fintech ecosystem by leveraging successful Indian digital models, as well as exploring joint ventures in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, apparel and electronics manufacturing.
Another major proposal discussed was the creation of a Bengaluru–Colombo technology entrepreneurship corridor aimed at fostering innovation, startup collaboration and knowledge exchange between the two regional hubs. The meeting also explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in the ports and tourism sectors.
The engagement comes as Sri Lanka seeks to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), strengthen industrial capacity, and position itself as a regional hub for innovation-driven partnerships with India.
The meeting was attended by Indian CEO Forum President Kishore Reddy, Lanka Ashok Leyland Managing Director Umesh Gautam, State Bank of India CEO Anita Sontumyra, Powertech Managing Director Gaurav Mehta, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara, and Export Development Board of Sri Lanka Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe, along with several senior Ministry officials.
