Sri Lankan delight in Davos

Sri Lanka recently made its biggest concerted effort to woo global investors on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Sri Lankan delegation led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe included Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to UN in Geneva, Switzerland Ravinatha Ariyasinha.  A top level private sector delegation too was in Davos comprised of John Keells Holdings Chairman Susantha Ratnayake, Brandix CEO Ashroff Omar, Carson Cumberbatch Director Hari Selvanathan, John Keells Holdings Deputy Chairman Ajit Gunewardene, former Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Suresh Shah, Colombo Stock Exchange Chairman Vajira Kulatilake, Ceylon Biscuits Group Managing Director Sheamalee Wickramasinghe, MTD Walkers Chairman Jehan Amaratunga, TW Corp. Chairman Thilan Wijesinghe, Virtusa Chief Operating Officer Keith Modder and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce CEO Mangala Yapa among the Ceylon Chamber delegation along with two foreign investors Pierre Pringiers (Camso Loadstar) and Philip Richart (Holcim Lanka Ltd), Advisor to Prime Minister Dinesh Weerakkody, CSE Director Anton Godfrey, business leader Suresh Subramaniam and top professional  Dr. Kapila Ranasinghe. A highlight of the private sector funded and organised initiatives was an Investment Promotion Forum followed by a reception and a luncheon seminar. These were organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva.