Business
Sri Lanka seeking to boost economic ties with Saudi Arabia
The State Minister of Regional Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tharaka Balasuriya, and State Minister of Foreign Employment and Market Diversification, Priyankara Jayarathna, and Delegation undertook an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to promote economic and commercial activity and to attract foreign direct investments to Sri Lanka as well as to boost and enhance employment for Sri Lanka nationals in Saudi Arabia, amongst others. The primary objectives of the State Ministry of Regional Cooperation are to aggrandise and to boost trade, particularly exports, attract investments and expand economic activity with other countries, thus encompassing the sphere of Economic Diplomacy.
During the High-level visit to Saudi Arabia, State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya and Delegation had discussions, meetings, calls and engagements with both the political leadership and with the corporate captains of Industry, amongst others. State Minister Balasuriya had meetings and engagements with the Minister of Investments; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Chairman and CEOs of large diversified conglomerates and with leading Business Chambers based in Riyadh, amongst others. Both the Minister of Investments, Khalid Al-Falih, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel bin Ahmed Al- Jubeir, expressed and voiced interest to look at Sri Lanka at this critical juncture with great interest and keenness, given the strategic location of the country, the thrust areas that Sri Lanka projects for foreign investors, educated and highly trainable workforce of Sri Lanka and access to a mega market consisting of over 1.8 billion people in South Asia since Sri Lanka has FTAs and multilateral trade arrangements, amongst others. Minister of Investment, whom State Minister Balasuriya met first, immediately scheduled and coordinated a high-profile meeting with corporate and industry leaders of the level of Chairmen and CEOs of some of the largest Business Houses in the KSA. This meeting was attended by nearly 25 top most executives of companies in Saudi Arabia having a combined net market capitalization of well over USD 1.4 trillion. Most of them were keen and eager to consider Sri Lanka as an investment destination and to conduct commercial activity.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia articulated that the large Sri Lankan migrant populace in Saudi Arabia has markedly and manifestly contributed to the advancement and augmentation of the Kingdom, over the years, during the Luncheon hosted by him in the honour of State Minister Balasuriya and Delegation. State Minister Balasuriya placed on record the sincere appreciation and gratitude of the Government and the peoples of Sri Lanka for assistance, cooperation and facilitation as well as aid and grants extended to Sri Lanka, during the last four decades, which have significantly and pointedly contributed in elevating the socio-economic landscape of the country. He further added that Sri Lanka was most grateful and obliged to Saudi Arabia for supporting Sri Lanka in multilateral forums, during the past, mainly at the Human Rights Council.
State Minister Balasuriya met with Ali Al Hazmi, Group CEO, and Board of Directors of a highly diversified and global corporate, Ajlan & Bros Holdings Group. During this meeting, each of the Directors of the Ajlan Group expounded and illustrated their myriad of expertise in realms of power, environment, oil and gas, tourism, logistics, healthcare, education and technology, amongst others. They conveyed their interest to engage, pro-actively, with Sri Lanka, at this critical and seminal cross road of geo-economic and geo-strategic transformation of international business and commerce in the region. State Minister Balasuriya was accompanied by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia P. M. Amza, Additional Secretary of the Ministry Prof. A. Saj U. Mendis and Minster (Commercial) of the Embassy, Sanjeewa Pattiwila, during all engagements and meetings in Riyadh. State Minister Balasuriya and delegation met with LUCID Corporate, which has specialized in manufacture of Electric Vehicles. The Head Office of LUCID is based in California and State Minister Balasuriya discussed the proposition of sourcing graphene from Sri Lanka, since it is a material imperative for batteries for Electric Vehicles, amongst others. Sri Lanka has the purest graphene in the world. Obviously, LUCID expressed palpable interest in this business solicitation.
State Minister Balasuriya had a high-level Forum at the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, which was attended by a number of prominent and elite industry and corporate leaders. Both State Minister Balasuriya and Ambassador Amza addressed the Forum by accentuating the six thrust areas of Sri Lanka, which were tourism, ICT, pharma, logistics, textiles and minerals, amongst others. State Minister Balasuriya and Delegation had a highly focused meeting with the Chairman and Board of Directors ACWA Power, one of the largest power-generating companies in the world with a value of over USD 65 billion. The Company generates over 40,000 MW of power on an annual basis and is present in over 15 countries. They have already expressed interest in Sri Lanka to construct six solar power projects and two wind power projects at an estimated cost of USD 800 million. Each of these eight projects would generate approximately 100 MW of power and the Company is 50% owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, amongst the five largest Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) in the world. The senior executives of ACWA Power were met in Sri Lanka in order to strategize the most efficacious courses of action to execute the project before State Minister Balasuriya left to Saudi Arabia for the two-day visit. During all meetings, calls and engagements, State Minister Balasuriya emphasised and enunciated that this was the best time to establish a business and/or investment presence in Sri Lanka when many other countries, both in the region as well as in Europe and the US, are already present in the country.
State Ministry of Regional Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo
Nestlé Lanka Limited this year marks 120 years of operations in Sri Lanka, highlighting a century-long presence that has extended beyond food manufacturing to supporting farmers, communities, youth employment and environmental sustainability.
Established in 1906, the company has grown into one of Sri Lanka’s leading food and beverage manufacturers, today producing more than 90% of the products it sells locally. Over the decades, Nestlé Lanka has built a strong domestic footprint through local sourcing, long-term farmer partnerships and continued investment in manufacturing.
Through widely recognised brands such as Nestomalt, Milo and Maggi, the company has become a familiar presence in Sri Lankan households, offering products designed to meet local nutritional needs. Many of its products are fortified with micronutrients aimed at improving dietary intake, while brands such as Milo and Nestomalt have also supported youth sports and active lifestyles in the country.
Nestlé Lanka’s engagement with local agriculture has also played a role in strengthening rural livelihoods. The company works closely with dairy and coconut farmers, providing technical assistance, skills development and reliable market access as part of its responsible sourcing efforts.
The company has also expanded programmes aimed at improving youth employability. Through the “Nestlé Needs YOUth” initiative, young Sri Lankans are provided with access to training, learning and career opportunities. Partnerships with organisations such as BConnected have also helped promote inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Sustainability has become an increasingly central focus of the company’s operations. Nestlé Lanka’s manufacturing facility in Kurunegala operates on 100% renewable electricity, while a biomass boiler commissioned in 2024 has helped reduce carbon emissions from manufacturing. The company aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Efforts to reduce environmental impact have also extended to packaging. Nestlé Lanka pioneered the shift from plastic to paper straws in aseptic beverage cartons in 2019 and supported the establishment of Sri Lanka’s first recycling plant for such cartons. The company aims to become fully plastic neutral by 2026.
Chairman and Managing Director Bernie Stefan said the milestone reflects the long-standing trust Sri Lankan consumers have placed in the company and the partnerships it has built across the country over generations.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has formally handed over its historical records to the National Archives Department of Sri Lanka, placing over a century of the nation’s commercial history into the care of the country’s official custodians of heritage.
The historical archive being handed over spans from the Chamber’s founding in 1839 to 1973, and includes correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, ledgers, and publications that chronicle the development of trade, enterprise, and industry in Sri Lanka. Together, these records provide a rare and detailed account of how the island’s economy evolved and how its business community helped shape national progress.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was established on 25 March 1839 on the principle that the interests of commerce and trade are best advanced when merchants unite and cooperate in matters affecting the common good. At the time, Ceylon was among the earliest regions in Asia to establish a chamber of commerce, alongside counterparts in Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Canton, Penang, and Singapore.
From its earliest years, the Chamber played a central role in organising and guiding trade. It played a central role in establishing and growing the export economy built on commodities such as coffee, cinnamon, coconut oil, tea, and rubber, and hosted the island’s renowned tea and rubber auctions. It also developed rules and standards for trading practices, helping create an environment of trust and reliability that enabled Sri Lanka’s commerce to thrive.
Ceylinco Life has secured two prestigious accolades for its 2024 Annual Report, reaffirming the Company’s leadership in transparent, accountable and sustainability-driven corporate reporting.
At the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sri Lanka Sustainability Reporting Awards, Ceylinco Life emerged winner in the ‘Other Financial Services’ category for the second time. Organised by the ACCA, one of the world’s most respected professional accounting bodies, the awards are assessed against globally accepted sustainability and reporting standards rather than local benchmarks, lending them strong international credibility. The recognition underscores Ceylinco Life’s sustained commitment to setting new benchmarks in sustainability reporting within Sri Lanka’s corporate sector.
The Company’s reporting excellence was also recognised at the TAGS Awards 2025 presented by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka). Ceylinco Life was ranked among the Top 10 Integrated Reports in Sri Lanka and received the Silver Award in the Insurance Companies category for entities with Gross Premium above Rs. 10 billion. The TAGS Awards evaluate annual reports on the pillars of Transparency, Accountability, Governance and Sustainability, and are widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s benchmark for corporate reporting excellence.
Commenting on the significance of the recognitions, Ceylinco Life Senior Executive Director/ Chief Financial Officer Mr Palitha Jayawardena said these awards validate the Company’s disciplined approach to transparency, governance and sustainability. “Our integrated reporting journey is not only about compliance; it is about clearly demonstrating how we create and protect value over the long term. Being recognised both by the ACCA and by CA Sri Lanka affirms that our reporting standards meet the highest expectations and reflect the depth of our commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices,” he said.
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