Basil bats for more British business in meet with UK Parliamentarians
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday found opportunity in a meeting with UK Parliamentarians to woo more investments and trade with British firms.
“Many opportunities are available in Sri Lanka in trade and investment for the British business community. The time has come for Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom to build a strong economic relationship. The United Kingdom was one Sri Lanka biggest trading partner,” Minister Rajapaksa said at the meeting with a delegation of UK Parliamentarians representing the Conservative party and one member from the Democratic Unionist party.
The coordinator of the team was MP James Wharton, who has visited Sri Lanka previously and takes an active interest in Sri Lankan issues
The delegation included Conservative MPs Mark Menzies, Andrew Stephenson, Aiden Burley, Connor Burns, Mathew Offord, David Morris and Bob Blackman, and Ian Paisley, a member of the Democratic Unionist party. The Minister said he had several meetings with the British business community already operating in Sri Lanka and that they had expressed their intention of expanding their existing ventures and bringing in new investment. “There are British companies doing well in the pharmaceutical, construction and industrial fields. More opportunities are available in the sectors of infrastructure development, IT development, construction, education and production. Many British universities are seeking to open their offices and market their courses in Sri Lanka,” Rajapaksa said.
Responding to an enquiry by the British delegation, the Minister said energy development was a key area in Sri Lanka’s present development strategy, while interested parties could invest in oil exploration activities and renewable energy development projects. He invited British investors to join in the oil exploration activities.
When the delegation expressed their interest in obtaining information on north east rehabilitation and reconstruction, the Minister said Sri Lanka had carried out an intensified rehabilitation program for former LTTE cadres, with about 17,000 youths rehabilitated.
Noting that they were provided with vocational training and higher education facilities including university degree programs, he added than when they integrated into society, they were provided with equipment, facilities for self employment or jobs according to their requirements. The Minister revealed that only about 800 youth were remaining in the rehabilitation camps and that they would be integrated into society within the next few months.
“North eastern resettlements were completed with great success. The IDPs were provided with all facilities for resettlement and agriculture and fishing industries were restored in these two provinces. Major parts of the foreign assistance received by the Government of Sri Lanka were allocated for the development of the north east during the last two years,” he said.
Responding to a question posed by the British delegation, the Minister said that while the North Eastern Provinces were affected by the war, beside these two provinces there were some other provinces lagging in development compare to the other provinces, adding that therefore it was the Government’s responsibility to look after these provinces as well.
“The Government has given priority to infrastructure development in order to facilitate the development of the production and services sectors. Connectivity is very important and Government was able to connect the entire country from city to village level by constructing road, highways, bridges and village level roads. Power, telecommunication and electricity are some of the other infrastructure facilities being developed by the Government,” he asserted.
The delegation suggested holding a business community meeting in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom and Minister agreed to provide all facilities for such meetings.
Sri Lanka High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Dr. Chris Nonis, Communication and Development Director General Prof. Sunanda Madduma Bandara, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Bashwara Senanka Gunaratna and Presidential Task Force for Resettlement Secretary S.B. Divaratne also participated at this meeting.
