Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Wednesday, 3 June 2026 00:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President’s Special Envoy for Foreign Investment Hanif Yusoof (left) with US Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg at the US Department of State
President’s Special Envoy for Foreign Investment, Hanif Yusoof has engaged in high-level discussions with the US Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg at the US Department of State in Washington D.C., as part of efforts to attract greater foreign investment to Sri Lanka.
In a post on X, Yusoof said the meeting focused on strengthening economic ties between Sri Lanka and the US, with discussions covering opportunities for US investment and technology in sectors including ports, logistics, energy and data centres.
He highlighted Sri Lanka’s recovery and growth prospects following the 2022 economic crisis, stating that the country’s future depends on greater openness and stronger engagement with global partners.
Yusoof said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is committed to building a more open, competitive and investment-ready economy.
“For too long, Sri Lanka has been overlooked because of our small size. But despite our limitations, we have always punched above our weight. Our people, our institutions and our ability to connect regions give us a significance that goes well beyond our geography or population. I was encouraged by Under Secretary Helberg’s understanding of the opportunities before us and his interest in working with Sri Lanka as we fast track investment and growth,” he added.
Yusoof noted that the US and Sri Lanka have an opportunity to build a stronger economic partnership, based not only on commercial interests, but also on our shared values and mutual confidence in each other.
“I look forward to working with Under Secretary Helberg to take this conversation forward in a practical and results-oriented way. And I look forward to welcoming him to Colombo so he can witness our nation’s potential for himself,” he stated.
