EXCLUSIVE PORT CITY COLOMBO INVESTOR FORUM HIGHLIGHTS SRI LANKA’S TRANSFORMATION

Sri Lanka presented a clear message of confidence, reform, and long-term opportunity at the Exclusive Port City Colombo Investor Forum held on 27th January 2026 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. Jointly organised by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore and Port City Colombo, the forum positioned Port City Colombo as the centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s next phase of economic transformation.

The Exclusive Investor Forum brought together close to 100 senior invitees from across real estate, financial services, investment and asset management, IT and digital services, professional services, and regional business leadership, reflecting broad-based interest in Port City Colombo’s services-led investment proposition.

Opening the forum, H.E. Senarath Dissanayake, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore, underscored Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening economic engagement with Singapore and regional partners, noting that Port City Colombo reflects the country’s readiness to integrate more deeply with global markets under internationally aligned standards.

Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Hanif Yusoof, Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investment and Governor of the Western Province, stated that Sri Lanka today is “not a recovery story, but a transformation story”, with Port City Colombo serving as a platform for that transformation to become tangible. He highlighted Sri Lanka’s rapid economic turnaround following the most severe crisis in its history. He noted stabilised inflation, renewed growth, strengthened foreign reserves, and restored macroeconomic confidence, a recovery recognised by international institutions as among the fastest in recent times.

The Special Envoy emphasised Sri Lanka’s commitment to long-term reform, institutional independence, and economic discipline. He pointed to constitutional guarantees and legal reforms, including the establishment of an independent Central Bank, strengthened fiscal and debt management laws, and a transparent, rules-based economic framework that enhances predictability and investor confidence.

He further noted that Sri Lanka offers a clear and familiar investment environment, anchored in common law traditions, bilateral investment protection treaties, double taxation avoidance agreements, and full recognition of international arbitration, providing investors with the freedom to repatriate capital and access international dispute-resolution mechanisms.

Special Envoy Yusoof echoed these sentiments during a live discussion on Channel News Asia from Singapore, where he reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s transition from crisis management to long-term economic transformation. During the interview, he positioned Port City Colombo as an export-oriented, services-led economic platform anchored in private capital and governed by a clear, rules-based regulatory framework, designed to catalyse high-value sectors such as financial services, IT and digital exports, professional services, logistics, and regional headquarters operations.

Mr. Harsha Amarasekara, PC, Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC), elaborated on the governance framework of Port City Colombo, established under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021. He highlighted that Port City Colombo is Sri Lanka’s first multi-services Special Economic Zone, governed by an independent Commission and supported by a single-window facilitation mechanism, offering investment protection, predictable incentives, and strong legal safeguards.

The forum also featured insights from Singapore’s business community, with remarks by Mr. Neil Parekh, Deputy Chairman & CEO of GFTN Capital and Chairman of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), and market perspectives from Mr. Anthony Chua, CEO of the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS), who highlighted the strategic relevance of Port City Colombo as a gateway for regional and global investors.

The discussions further highlighted Port City Colombo’s growing collaboration with leading regional and global corporates, including Keppel, a long-standing partner and collaborator in Sri Lanka that also provides advisory and consultancy support on EMC-related aspects of the development. Mr. Lam Siu Chang, Senior Manager, Real Estate Division at Keppel, shared perspectives on sustainable urban development, infrastructure-led growth, and the role of integrated, future-ready cities in attracting long-term institutional capital, reinforcing strategic alignment with global best practices and institutional interest in Port City Colombo as a long-term investment destination.

A detailed overview of investment opportunities and processes was delivered by Mr. Revan Wickramasuriya, Director General of CPCEC, who outlined the streamlined process, long-term fiscal incentives for Businesses of Strategic Importance, enhanced mobility of capital through exemptions under the Foreign Exchange Act, foreign currency transactions in 16 designated currencies, and visa facilitation through a Green Channel for investors and professionals.

Independent third-party perspectives were provided by KPMG Sri Lanka, with Mr. Suresh Perera and Ms. Rifka Ziyard presenting an objective assessment of Sri Lanka’s economic outlook and the tax and regulatory framework applicable to Port City Colombo.

Investor confidence was reinforced through testimonials from Ansell and Millennium IT ESP, sharing first-hand experiences of operating in Sri Lanka and the Port City Colombo ecosystem.

Concluding the Forum, Ms. Bai Xiaping, Assistant Managing Director of CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd., the project’s primary developer, delivered the vote of thanks and noted that the development represents a comprehensive ecosystem where businesses can establish regional headquarters, scale operations, access global talent, and connect seamlessly to South Asia and the wider Indian Ocean economy.

To learn more about the investment opportunities at Port City Colombo, please visit www.portcitycolombo.lk. For information on Single Window Investment Facilitation and regulatory matters, please visit www.portcitycolombo.gov.lk.