Sri Lanka aims to create more jobs through foreign investments

Sri Lanka is aiming to create at least 1 million jobs in the next five years with the support of new foreign investments, a local media report quoting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said here on Sunday.

During a tour of Hambantota, in the south of the island nation, Wickremesinghe said that China had made a request for a block of land in Hambantota to set up an investment zone and more Chinese investments were expected in Sri Lanka.

He further said that a Chinese company had also shown interest in starting a ship building project in Hambantota.

Visiting mega infrastructure projects built during the previous government, Wickremesinghe said that although some of these projects did not reap economic benefits, his government would now turn them into viable ventures.

The prime minister, accompanied by Minister of Housing Sajith Premadasa and Minister of Law and Order Sagala Ratnayake, visited the Mattala International Airport and inquired about the construction of the Airport and its operational activities.

Addressing journalists after the inspection tour, Wickremesinghe said the country would be developed along with the support of international investors and his government would turn all mega projects into viable ventures in order to boost the economy.

Sri Lanka is looking to attract large foreign investments this year in order to develop the country and strengthen its economy.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe have vowed to set a five-year plan to develop the nation. Endit