Private sector calls for removal of bottlenecks
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Sri Lanka could be increased beyond current projections of US$ 1.75 billion through a streamlining of gross capital formation with government policies and planning, according to Chamber of Construction Industry Chairman Surath Wickramasinghe.
“To achieve this objective, the private sector should be motivated and given confidence by clearing the prevailing ‘bottlenecks’. I am confident that the Organisation for Professional Associations (OPA) as well as the Chamber of Construction Industry, Sri Lanka will be pleased to assist the Ministry of Defence to overcome these impediments by introducing new mechanisms to fast track development,” said Wickramasinghe.
He further stated that the establishment of a continuous dialogue between the Ministries of Defence, Finance and Economic Development to be opened with the private sector in order to formulate a national strategy on development.
Wickramasinghe’s call for such a dialogue was highlighted in the context of several infrastructure projects undertaken by the Ministry of Defence through the cities of Colombo, Sri Jayawardenapura and the dredging of Lake Gregory in Nuwara Eliya.
He further suggested the historic Nuwara Eliya Race Course as being a potential target of such infrastructure development in future.
Wickramasinghe made the comments during his speech at the induction ceremony of Lalith Thilinapriya Kiringoda as the 31st President of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA).
Addressing the issue of the growing dearth of professionals and skilled personnel in the country, Wickramasinghe said, “The corporate sector is facing a major setback due to the difficulties in obtaining the services of professionals in different disciplines and skilled persons. If this trend continues, very soon we will have to import both professionals and skilled personnel to meet our requirements.”
As a result, he urged the incoming president of the OPA to continue with the association’s career guidance programme while improving on it through the establishment of
a multi-lingual career guidance website in addition to exhibitions and seminars at district level, in order to promote interaction between professionals and the youth of the country, with a view towards increasing the number of professionals and skilled personnel in the country’s workforce.
“I am confident that the government will support this programme for good governance and state policy to effectively harness the skills and talents of the youth which are a national asset,” said Wickramasinghe.