PORT CITY COLOMBO COURTS INDIAN INVESTORS WITH PROMISE OF REGULATORY CERTAINTY AND GLOBAL MARKET ACCESS

Port City Colombo has intensified its engagement with India’s business community through an investor forum in Chennai, showcasing its advantages as Sri Lanka’s only foreign currency-designated Special Economic Zone. Officials and industry leaders highlighted regulatory certainty, investor protections and growing opportunities for cross-border investment and strategic partnerships.

Port City Colombo has stepped up its efforts to attract Indian investment, positioning itself as a gateway for international business and a platform for deeper economic collaboration between Sri Lanka and India.

Addressing investors and business leaders at an Investor Forum in Chennai, Harsha Amarasekera President’s Counsel and Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, underscored the strategic significance of the development to Sri Lanka’s national agenda. He noted that Port City Colombo operates under the direct purview of the Office of Sri Lanka’s President, H.E. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also serves as Minister of Finance, reflecting the Government’s strong commitment to the project and its long-term success.

The forum served as a platform to present Port City Colombo’s value proposition to Indian businesses seeking opportunities beyond their domestic market. Thulci Aluwihare, Deputy Managing Director of CHEC Port City Colombo Pvt. Ltd., outlined the city’s credentials as an emerging international business and investment destination. He highlighted that Port City Colombo is Sri Lanka’s only foreign currency-designated Special Economic Zone, offering a unique operating environment designed to attract global investors.

Aluwihare detailed the legal and regulatory framework supporting the project, describing a structure intended to provide both convenience and certainty for investors. Key features include a single-window approval process, investor protection mechanisms, a stabilisation framework, international arbitration provisions, 100 per cent foreign ownership and the ability to conduct transactions in 16 foreign currencies, including the Indian rupee. These measures, he said, are designed to support a seamless investment experience and enhance the city’s appeal as a regional business hub.

A panel discussion brought together industry and investment experts to examine opportunities emerging from the project. Participants included Madhu Raghunath, Chief Executive Officer of TVS Vehicle Mobility Solutions and Co-Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry Sri Lanka Taskforce on International Business Development; Robin S., Senior Director and Head of the Centre of Excellence, Strategic Consulting and Value & Risk Advisory for India and Sri Lanka at JLL; Harsha Amarasekera and Thulci Aluwihare.

The discussion focused on sector-specific investment opportunities, regulatory facilitation and the potential for stronger business partnerships between Sri Lankan and Indian enterprises. Panellists explored how the special economic zone could serve as a platform for companies looking to expand their regional footprint while benefiting from a transparent and investor-friendly framework.

Highlighting the perspective of Indian businesses, Robin S. said that proximity, ease of doing business and access to new growth markets remain critical factors for companies evaluating overseas opportunities. He observed that Port City Colombo’s regulatory clarity and transparent incentives have created the conditions for meaningful interest from India.

“For Indian businesses exploring opportunities beyond the domestic market, geographic proximity, ease of doing business and access to new growth markets are important considerations. A clear regulatory framework and transparent incentive framework give Port City Colombo the ingredients for serious interest from India, and the conversations thus far show that interest is building,” he said.

The Chennai forum marks an important milestone in Port City Colombo’s outreach to the Indian business community. Organisers indicated that engagement efforts will continue through sustained dialogue aimed at fostering cross-border partnerships, unlocking new investment opportunities and strengthening economic ties between the two neighbouring countries.