Sri Lanka's President to meet expats for development

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will soon hold discussions with Sri Lankan expatriates on their contribution to development as part of a special programme which educates the expatriates on possible investment areas. Special arrangements for this meeting are being made through the Sri Lankan missions abroad.

The President will address them at the meeting on 14 November followed by a workshop on November 15 at the BMICH which provides an opportunity for expatriates to meet with leaders of Sri Lanka's financial and investment institutions.

The programme aims at using the knowledge, entrepreneurship and financial support of the Sri Lankan expatriates in order for them to be actively involved in the development process of the country.

Sri Lankans living in countries all over the world as well as representatives of organizations run by them (Buddhist and other religious organizations, welfare organizations and other Sri Lankan organizations) are invited to examine the current situation of the country, be aware of the development project currently underway and to be commenced in the future as well as to identify areas of development where they can participate in.

President's initiative will result in creating opportunities for Sri Lankans to contribute to various areas of investment. This is also an opportunity to increase friendship and cooperation between counterparts as well as an opportunity to create awareness on Sri Lanka to the outside world.

In the President's Address to the Nation in the immediate aftermath of the country's liberation from terrorism, and also during the Sixty First Independence Day speech, the President stated that an opportunity has been created for all Sri Lankans who left the country due to terrorist activities to come back and contribute for the development of their motherland.

The government has recognized the legitimate grievances of the Tamil people in terms of socio- economic requirements and has already begun programmes to address these needs. For that the government has now begun to receive the support of Tamils living in Sri Lanka and abroad.

In addition, this programme hopes to give an overview of the 'Nagenahira Navodaya' programme whereby the people of the East have progressed socially and economically while achieving political freedom. It will also create awareness of the 'Uthuru Wasanthaya' programme where resettlement and development of infrastructure will be detailed. Thus the programme will give an opportunity for expatriates to explore investment opportunities in the North and East.

Another aim of this programme is to commend all Sri Lankans who supported the government in its war against terrorism.

This programme is jointly organized by the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated by Mr. Chandrapala Liyanage, Director, Presidential Media Coordination/ Minister Counsellor, Sri Lankan Embassy in Italy.

Those who hope to participate in this programme may do so by giving the participants' information to High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates of relevant countries or via the below telephone and fax numbers or by email before 30 October 2009.

- Asian Tribune -