Malaysian entrepreneurs interested in major joint ventures with SL

The delegates with President Maithripala Sirisena - Pic by President’s Media 

A high-powered delegation of Malaysian entrepreneurs, headed by the country’s special envoy to the Prime Minister, Datu Seri Utama Samy Vellu, called on President Maithripala Sirisena at his official residence yesterday. 

During the meeting, the delegates expressed their interest in initiating major joint ventures and investments in several areas. The team expressed interest in large-scale joint ventures such as the Colombo Unirail Project, the Colombo-Kandy Highway construction and an oil pipeline from Colombo to Katunayake for the supply of aviation fuel. 

They said these projects could be worked out under the Built-Operate and Transfer (BOT) system. President Sirisena expressed his appreciation over the rapid economic development of Malaysia and emphasised the need for expanding bilateral relations. He urged Malaysian investors to increase investment in the industrial, agricultural and economic sectors.

President Sirisena said his government was very keen to implement major projects that would benefit the economy of the country and it seemed preferable to enter into such projects under Government-to-Government agreements as this would minimise or eliminate corruption during project implementation.