Thursday Oct 15, 2026
Thursday Oct 15, 2026
Thursday, 15 October 2026 06:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
US Ambassador Eric Meyer - Pic by Upul Abayasekara
By Charumini de Silva
US Ambassador Eric Meyer yesterday identified policy and regulatory unpredictability as the single greatest deterrent to foreign investment in Sri Lanka, urging the country to strengthen transparency, intellectual property (IP) protection and fair competition to unlock greater bilateral business opportunities.
Addressing the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka–USA Business Council (SLUSABC) Meyer said sudden policy shifts and project reversals made it difficult for foreign investors to commit capital to long-term ventures, despite the progress Sri Lanka had achieved.
“Sri Lanka has indeed made significant progress, but policy and regulatory unpredictability remain the single greatest deterrent to foreign capital,” he said.
The Ambassador said sustainable economic growth required a predictable business environment, backed by strong intellectual property rights and transparent regulation, adding that these factors were critical to investment decisions by American companies.
Meyer, who said he had recently begun his assignment in Sri Lanka, reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding bilateral economic and commercial ties and pledged to work with the private sector to address barriers to investment.
The US Embassy had recently secured funding to bring American technical expertise to support the modernisation of Sri Lanka’s ports, energy and high-tech sectors, he said.
“Our commitment extends beyond commercial trade,” Meyer said, highlighting the potential for technical cooperation alongside greater commercial engagement.
He noted that US companies offered expertise and innovation across technology, energy, infrastructure and logistics, creating opportunities for deeper collaboration between the two countries.
Meyer also encouraged Sri Lankan businesses to explore expansion opportunities in the United States, including participation in the upcoming ‘SelectUSA Investment Summit’, underscoring the importance of developing a two-way investment relationship rather than focusing solely on attracting American capital to Sri Lanka.
The Ambassador commended the Business Council for its work over the past year in promoting improvements to Sri Lanka’s regulatory framework and business environment, strengthening bilateral economic relations and raising awareness of the importance of IP protection in attracting US investment.
He said these efforts addressed issues that American businesses considered when assessing investment destinations.
“The United States remains fully committed to expanding the economic and commercial ties between our two nations,” Meyer said, adding that strengthening these links would be a priority during his tenure.
He called on the Council’s business leaders to use their influence to advance reforms, arguing that the private sector could play a significant role in translating policy discussions into tangible changes.
“As market leaders, you have the credibility to push for these reforms. The conversations you’ve started this past year can become reforms in the year ahead,” he said.
Meyer assured the Council that he and his Embassy team would work with the business community to promote the necessary changes, expressing confidence that a more predictable investment climate would benefit businesses in both countries.
He also thanked outgoing Council President Tilak Gunawardana and the leadership board for their contributions, while congratulating the newly elected office bearers as the organisation marked its 10th anniversary.
The Ambassador said he looked forward to working with the Council in the coming year to advance bilateral commercial ties and create conditions in which both Sri Lankan and American businesses could expand.
