China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) has told President Anura Kumara Dissanayake it wants to expand its investments in Sri Lanka, naming renewable energy, trade and logistics, and digital services as target sectors.
A senior CCCC delegation led by Zhang Bingnan met the President at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday afternoon. Discussions centred on projects already under way and others proposed around Colombo Port City, according to a statement from the President’s Media Division.
Local hiring commitment
The company assured the President that 90 percent of the workforce employed on its investment projects in Sri Lanka would be recruited locally, creating additional employment for Sri Lankans.
CCCC representatives said the government’s forward-looking policies and programmes had strengthened investor confidence and encouraged the company to look at further significant investment in the country. They said Sri Lanka had the potential to develop into a regional hub in renewable energy, trade and logistics, and digital services, and could attract increased foreign investment in those areas.
Who attended
Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, President’s Chief of Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Senior Economic Adviser Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Additional Secretary Roshan Gamage and Colombo Port City Economic Commission Chairman, President’s Counsel Harsha Amarasekera were among those present.
Senior officials from CCCC, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) and CHEC Sri Lanka also took part.
CCCC is the parent of China Harbour Engineering Company, the contractor that built Colombo Port City on reclaimed land alongside Colombo harbour. The meeting took place on the same day the new Chinese Ambassador arrived in Colombo to take up his post.
Sources: Ada Derana, Daily Mirror, Hiru News.
