By Kathleen Pokrud
The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Thailand, in collaboration with the Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce, recently organised the “Invest Sri Lanka” Business Forum at the Grande Centre Point Surawong Hotel in Bangkok.
The event was held in the presence of HE Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and brought together over 80 prominent Thai and international business leaders.
The forum was convened on the side-lines of the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit, held in Bangkok from 02–04 April 2025 and served as a timely platform to promote Sri Lanka as an attractive destination for trade and investment.
Delivering the keynote address, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya highlighted Sri Lanka’s emerging political and economic stability and emphasised that the country is poised to become “the world’s next success story”. She invited international investors to be a part of Sri Lanka’s transformative growth journey, underscoring the government’s commitment to building a resilient and inclusive economy.
The Prime Minister stated that the government of Sri Lanka has overseen clear signs of economic recovery following the pandemic and economic crisis. She highlighted that the country is now entering a new era, characterised by robust infrastructure development and the rise of a highly skilled workforce. She also noted the rapid surge in foreign tourist arrivals in early 2025 and expressed optimism for a record-breaking year for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, welcomed the distinguished guests and business representatives and acknowledged Thailand’s long-standing economic engagement with Sri Lanka, noting that Thailand contributed USD 97 million in Foreign Direct Investment to Sri Lanka between 2008 and 2024. Ambassador Edirisinghe encouraged Thai investors to take advantage of the evolving investment landscape in Sri Lanka and highlighted enabling legal frameworks such as the Bilateral Investment Treaty and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, which facilitate smooth bilateral investment flows.
The event also featured remarks from the President of the Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce, Mr Dilan Samarakoon, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Poj Aramwattananont, and Chairwoman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand, Vibeke Lyssand Leirvåg. All speakers reaffirmed their confidence in Sri Lanka’s economic trajectory and extended a strong call to action for Thai and international investors to explore emerging opportunities in the country.
