(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe took part in a high-profile business roundtable discussion titled “Economic Opportunities in Sri Lanka” which was held on 18 September 2023 in the Pierre Hotel-New York in conjunction with the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Addressing the business leaders gathered at the event, President Wickremesinghe outlined the current economic situation of the country while highlighting the economic reforms that the government has undertaken to further stabilize the economy leading towards achieving rapid economic growth in the immediate future to ensure the country’s journey towards a prosperous nation.
The President clarified the government’s standpoint answering various questions raised by the attendees related to their commercial interests in the country and invited the US companies to visit Sri Lanka and to consider investing in the country and becoming development partners.
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to USA Mahinda Samarasinghe, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardena, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Mohan Peiris, Chairman of BOI & Colombo Port City Dinesh Weerakkody and President’s Senior Adviser on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardena alongside other senior officials representing the government of Sri Lanka attended this significant roundtable discussion and used the opportunity to network with the US companies.
The business roundtable discussion aimed to foster economic opportunities and strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations. There was a participation from more than 45 business entities who were keen on exploring investment and trade prospects in Sri Lanka.
Top executives of leading US companies that include some “Fortune 500 companies”, Franklin Templeton, Cognizant, Procter & Gamble, UPS, Auerbach Grayson, Bell Flight, Shearman & Sterling, McLarty Associates, Alvarez & Marsal Holdings, Jockey International Inc., Tomorrow.io, Arbiter Partners, Ethos Asset Management, Ergotron, Roche Diagnostics, Briarwood Chase Management, Thatcher & Co., Amerasian Corporation, Rank One Computing, Perdue Agribusiness, Templeton Asset Management, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Woods Capital LLC, Rushmore Advisors and Greenlink Global Consulting Inc. attended the Discussion.
Alongside them were prominent representatives from Sri Lanka’s private sector led by top executives of, John Keells Holdings PLC, Aitken Spence PLC, Softlogic Holdings, Hayleys PLC, Gardiner Group of Companies/Galle Face Hotels, Abans PLC, Aggreko International Power, Melsta Corp., Colombo Stock Exchange, Capital Alliance, Standard Chartered Bank, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Hatton National Bank PLC, Hatch Works and NCINGA participated at the Discussion.
This event was jointly organized by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and the Embassy of Sri Lanka to the USA in Washington DC.
