Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
Wednesday, 28 January 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe
Gulf News: Sri Lanka is offering tax holidays of up to 15 years and positioning Colombo Port City as a new financial and trade hub as it seeks to attract United Arab Emirates (UAE) investors amid renewed political and economic stability, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe said.
Abeysinghe told Gulf News that the Government is streamlining investment approvals and incentives to make Sri Lanka a predictable and competitive destination for foreign capital.
“We have two broad investment opportunities – the Colombo Port City, which is being developed as a regional financial hub, and projects under the Board of Investment,” Abeysinghe said on the sidelines of the Invest Sri Lanka Investor Forum in Dubai. “Some investments qualify for tax holidays of up to 15 years, along with other incentives. With the new Investment Promotion Act, all of this will be streamlined and made clearer.”
The Deputy Minister said Sri Lanka’s political neutrality and expanding trade access make it attractive for Middle Eastern businesses looking to establish a regional base.
“Sri Lanka can trade and work with any country. We engage with China, the US, India, and the Middle East,” he said, noting that the country’s neutral foreign policy gives investors access to global trade and investment routes.
He pointed out that Sri Lanka already enjoys preferential access to European markets and is negotiating further trade agreements.
The Deputy Minister highlighted agriculture, tourism, maritime logistics, and renewable energy as priority sectors for foreign investors.
“Agricultural transformation is a major opportunity, particularly in crops that are unique to Sri Lanka,” Abeysinghe said. “There is also strong potential in luxury tourism, especially for Middle Eastern travellers, as well as in ports and maritime investments connecting East-West trade routes.”
Renewable energy, including green hydrogen and long-term energy storage, was another focus area, he said.
