Heads of Missions-designate call on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister

Sri Lanka’s newly appointed seven Heads of Missions-designate called on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath on Wednesday (14) at the end of the orientation program conducted by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. Ministry.

During the meeting, the Heads of Missions-designate made presentations outlining their priorities to gain maximum benefits to Sri Lanka giving special emphasis on improving bilateral and multilateral relations, trade and tourism promotion and engagement with the Sri Lankan communities in the respective countries etc.

The new Heads of Missions-designate comprise: High Commissioner-designate to India Mahishini Colonne, Permanent Representative-designate to the UN in New York Jayantha Chandrasiri Jayasuriya, High Commissioner-designate to Pakistan (Retd.) Rear Admiral Fred Senevirathne, Ambassador-designate to Cuba Mahindadasa Rathnayake, Ambassador-designate to the United Arab Emirates Prof. Arusha Cooray, Ambassador-designate to the Japan Prof. Janak Kumarasinghe, and High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom S.D.N.U. Senadheera.

Heads...

The orientation program included interactive sessions with the Trade Chambers, Foreign Employment Bureau, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka Tea Board, Export Development Board, Board of Investment and with the senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. It also had field visits to Colombo Port City, Colombo Dockyard, Sri Lanka Institute of Nano Technology (SLINTEC), Katunayake Export Processing Zone and some other private sector organisations etc.

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja and Human Resource and Mission Management Director General Sumith Dassanayake were also associated with the Minister at the discussion.

Herath revisited recent economic developments and the significant turnaround in economic indicators. The significant GDP performance, which outperformed the forecasted 4.4% and realised 5% growth, is due to the reliance of the Sri Lankan economy. The post-economic crisis period results in better performance in sectors such as tourism and construction. 

The context of the Sri Lankan economic landscape and its stance on FDI attraction were further discussed. The monetary discipline, the Central Bank’s commitment to maintaining a stable and predictable money supply, is crucial for achieving price stability and a healthy economic environment. This has been achieved through various monetary policy instruments in the present-day context. This was evident in such areas as interest rate adjustments and open market operations, managing inflation (single-digit), and maintaining a stable exchange rate. Further, it was discussed that healthier foreign reserves, in 2024 $ 7 billion and aiming at $ 8 billion in 2025. 

Hence, it is evident that almost every aspect of the economic landscape brings positive indicators to investors — it would be a catalyst and provide a better platform for the Sri Lankan foreign mission overseas to promote the country. 

The Government’s commitment to debt restructuring and the IMF’s approval of the Government’s effort to fulfil the economic transformation of the country, and normalising the political ecosystem, and the effort of anticorruption, further discussed with the diplomatic community and explored new avenues to boost the image of the country. 

Herath further elaborated about the BOI road map to facilitate the investor requirements by providing new opportunities to them with a better ecosystem for doing business in Sri Lanka. 

The regional Industrial Zones, in addition to the existing 15 BOI Zones, will see the Government accelerate the implementation of five more zones in various geographic locations. 

Kankesanthurai (KKS) Manufacturing Zone focuses on the apparel industry, with potential for diversification. Paranthan – Chemical Zone is a joint venture between BOI and Paranthan Chemicals Company Ltd., focusing on chemical manufacturing and related sectors. 

Mankulam – Agricultural Zone leverages local agricultural resources such as paddy, dairy, and fisheries, aiming to enhance value addition in the agricultural sector. Infrastructure development includes a planned extension of the railway line to the zone. 

Iranawila – Tourism Zone is targeted at tourism and leisure-related development. Trincomalee – Energy and Logistics Hub focuses on energy logistics, integrating Trincomalee port with the oil storage facilities.

During the meeting, ideas were contemplated on how technology and digital transformation serve in the context of FDI attraction, and the new development of the policy that supports technology parks was discussed. 

Two new technology parks are planned in Kurunegala and Galle, as an initial drive to create a segment for digital FDI, focusing more on Information Technology and innovation-based industries. The modality will be based upon Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models are being considered for the development and implementation of technology parks to be launched in the last quarter of 2025. 

The BOI chairman, officials and designated ambassadors expressed their idea of how the Sri Lankan foreign mission works together with BOI and brings much-needed synergy to make Sri Lanka as a most preferred destination for FDI in South Asia.