Port City Colombo is driving Sri Lanka’s investment transformation, offering a world-class platform for services-led growth. The recent investor forum in Singapore highlighted confidence, reforms, and long-term opportunities across multiple sectors.
Discover Port City Colombo as Sri Lanka’s hub for transformative investments
Sri Lanka is sending a clear message to global investors: the nation is open, stable, and strategically poised for long-term economic growth. The exclusive Port City Colombo Investor Forum, held on 27 January at Singapore’s Shangri-La Hotel, showcased how Port City Colombo is central to the country’s next phase of transformation. Jointly organised by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore and Port City Colombo, the forum brought together nearly 100 senior representatives from real estate, financial services, IT and digital solutions, professional services, and regional business leadership, underlining broad-based interest in the investment hub.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore, Senarath Dissanayake, opened the forum by underscoring the country’s commitment to strengthening economic engagement with Singapore and other regional partners. He highlighted that Port City Colombo reflects Sri Lanka’s readiness to integrate deeply with international markets, adhering to globally recognised standards.
Delivering the keynote, Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investment and Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof described Sri Lanka as “not a recovery story, but a transformation story.” He emphasized that Port City Colombo is a tangible platform for this transformation, noting the nation’s rapid economic turnaround following one of its most severe crises. Inflation has stabilised, growth is rebounding, foreign reserves have strengthened, and macroeconomic confidence has been restored. These achievements have garnered recognition from international institutions, positioning Sri Lanka as one of the fastest-recovering economies globally.
Yusoof also highlighted the country’s commitment to long-term reforms, institutional independence, and economic discipline. Constitutional safeguards and legal reforms, such as the establishment of an independent Central Bank, strengthened fiscal and debt management regulations, and a transparent rules-based economic framework, have improved predictability and investor confidence.
Sri Lanka further offers a familiar and secure investment environment anchored in common law, bilateral investment protection treaties, double taxation agreements, and full recognition of international arbitration. Investors are assured freedom to repatriate capital and access dispute-resolution mechanisms, reinforcing Port City Colombo as an attractive destination for global capital.
During a live discussion on Channel News Asia, Yusoof reiterated that the country has transitioned from crisis management to long-term economic transformation. He described Port City Colombo as an export-oriented, services-led platform underpinned by private capital and governed by clear regulations. The hub is designed to catalyse high-value sectors including financial services, IT and digital exports, professional services, logistics, and regional headquarters operations.
Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) Chairman Harsha Amarasekara PC elaborated on the governance framework, which is established under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021. As Sri Lanka’s first multi-services Special Economic Zone, Port City Colombo benefits from an independent Commission and a single-window facilitation mechanism, ensuring investment protection, predictable incentives, and strong legal safeguards.
Singapore’s business community also shared perspectives during the forum. GFTN Capital Deputy Chairman/CEO Neil Parekh and Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore CEO Anthony Chua emphasised the strategic relevance of Port City Colombo as a gateway for regional and global investors. The forum showcased growing collaborations with regional and international corporates, including Keppel, which provides advisory and consultancy support for sustainable urban development, infrastructure growth, and integrated city planning.
Keppel Senior Manager Lam Siu Chang highlighted how future-ready cities like Port City Colombo attract institutional capital and support long-term investments, aligning with global best practices. Investors were also briefed on operational processes and incentives by CPCEC Director General Revan Wickramasuriya. He outlined streamlined procedures, fiscal incentives for Businesses of Strategic Importance, enhanced capital mobility under the Foreign Exchange Act, foreign currency transactions in 16 designated currencies, and visa facilitation via the Green Channel for professionals.
Independent assessments were provided by KPMG Sri Lanka, with representatives Suresh Perera and Rifka Ziyard offering objective analyses of the economic outlook, tax structures, and regulatory frameworks applicable to Port City Colombo. Investor confidence was reinforced by testimonials from companies like Ansell and Millennium IT ESP, which shared positive experiences operating within the ecosystem.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd. Assistant Managing Director Bai Xiaping, who emphasised that the development offers a comprehensive ecosystem for regional headquarters, scalable operations, global talent access, and seamless connectivity to South Asia and the wider Indian Ocean region. Port City Colombo is clearly positioning Sri Lanka as a hub for transformative, services-led investment, attracting both regional and global interest.