The chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission is pushing for a new approach to investment in Sri Lanka, one where the country’s flagship special economic zone acts as an entry point for businesses that then extend their operations into the economy.

Harsha Amarasekera said the Commission should hold regular discussions with the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka to encourage companies already operating within Port City to consider setting up manufacturing or related activities in other economic zones around the country.

He said the goal is for Port City and the BOI’s network of investment zones to complement rather than compete with each other.

A coordinated approach could be adopted where service-related operations are based within Port City while other activities are established outside it.

With the regulatory framework, legal amendments and tax incentives now in place, Amarasekera said the conditions for such a model were ready.

He highlighted Ansell, a company planning to establish a research and development facility within Port City, as an example of the kind of firm that could anchor high-value work in the zone while running other operations elsewhere under BOI oversight.

Amarasekera proposed regular meetings between the Director Generals of both institutions to review investment activity and identify opportunities for joint initiatives.

The suggestion signals a shift in thinking, away from Port City as a standalone project and toward its role as a catalyst for investment across the island. (Source-The Leader)