Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investment Hanif Yusoof engaged with senior representatives of leading American corporations, business associations, and policy institutions in a high‑level dialogue on Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic reforms, investment climate, and emerging opportunities across strategic sectors including ports and logistics, renewable energy, tourism, aviation, advanced manufacturing, technology, and healthcare.

The roundtable was hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.–Sri Lanka Commercial Working Group together with McLarty Associates, providing a platform for these discussions.

The roundtable brought together representatives from Apple, Boeing, Mastercard, AdvaMed, McLarty Associates, the Atlantic Council, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Albright Stonebridge Group and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to discuss opportunities to strengthen economic and commercial ties between Sri Lanka and the United States.

Addressing participants, Hanif Yusoof highlighted Sri Lanka’s commitment to becoming one of the most competitive and investor-friendly destinations in the region.

“Sri Lanka is open for business and ready to compete for investment. Our focus is not only on improving the ease of doing business, but on improving the speed of doing business. We are committed to building a predictable, transparent and efficient environment that enables investors to succeed,” he said. 

Hanif Yusoof emphasised Sri Lanka’s strategic location at the centre of the Indian Ocean, its highly educated workforce, democratic institutions and growing role as a regional logistics and connectivity hub. He also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to economic reform, private sector-led growth and stronger engagement with international investors.

Participants expressed strong interest in Sri Lanka’s future economic prospects and welcomed the country’s efforts to improve the investment environment and deepen engagement with the international business community.

Several participants highlighted the importance of supply chain diversification, energy security, infrastructure development and regional connectivity, while recognising Sri Lanka’s potential to serve as a platform for investment and operations across South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.

The roundtable also identified a number of areas for future collaboration, including:

* Facilitating a delegation of U.S. businesses to Sri Lanka to explore investment opportunities firsthand.

* Expanding engagement between Sri Lankan institutions and leading American corporations.

* Strengthening collaboration with U.S. development finance and project preparation institutions.

* Promoting partnerships in logistics, renewable energy, tourism, aviation, technology and advanced manufacturing.

* Supporting future engagements between Sri Lankan leadership and the American business community.

Hanif Yusoof noted that attracting high-quality foreign investment requires sustained engagement and strong partnerships.

“Investment promotion is fundamentally about building confidence and long-term relationships. The conversations held in Washington this week reaffirmed that there is growing international interest in Sri Lanka and confidence in our direction of travel. Our task now is to translate that interest into tangible investments, jobs and opportunities for the Sri Lankan people,” he said. 

The roundtable forms part of a broader programme of engagements undertaken by the Presidential Special Envoy during his visit to Washington D.C., aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s economic partnerships and advancing the country’s foreign investment agenda. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investment, Hanif Yusoof, held his first meeting at the U.S. Department of State with Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg, where discussions centred on strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

In a post on ‘X’, Yusoof described the meeting as “a substantive and forward‑looking discussion on strengthening the economic partnership between Sri Lanka and the United States”.

He further noted that talks focused on Sri Lanka’s next stage of growth and the role U.S. investment and technology could play in sectors such as ports, logistics, energy, and data centres.

Reflecting on lessons from Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis, Yusoof said that “our path forward lies in openness and a more confident engagement with the world,” adding that President Anura Dissanayake is committed to building a more open, competitive, and investment‑ready economy.

The envoy highlighted Sri Lanka’s resilience despite its size, stressing that the country has always punched above its weight and offers significance beyond its geography or population. 

He said he was encouraged by Helberg’s understanding of the opportunities ahead and his interest in working with Sri Lanka to fast‑track investment and growth.

Yusoof concluded that the United States and Sri Lanka have an opportunity to build a stronger economic partnership based not only on commercial interests but also on shared values and mutual confidence in each other, expressing hope to welcome Helberg to Colombo to witness the nation’s potential firsthand. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka positioned itself as a trusted and reliable investment partner during a high‑level virtual roundtable chaired by Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investment and Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof.

Representatives from major U.S. corporations, including SpaceX, Apple, Coca‑Cola, Mastercard, Visa, Boeing, Chevron, Corteva, Meta, Google, and Airbnb, joined the discussions. 

In a statement on ‘X’, Hanif Yusoof said that, during the discussion, he highlighted Sri Lanka’s potential not only as a standalone market but also as a strategic platform to serve the wider South Asian region.

He further stressed his commitment to advancing President Anura Dissanayake’s investment agenda, aiming to attract global business leaders and secure long‑term partnerships. 

The session was facilitated by U.S. Ambassador Atul Keshap and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (Newswire)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof as the President’s Special Envoy for Foreign Investment.

The appointment has been made in accordance with the powers vested in the President under Article 41(1) of the Constitution. It recognises Mr Yusoof’s experience in global investment partnerships and his long-term contribution to the development of Sri Lanka’s private sector, as well as his ability to assist in the Government’s economic revival programme.

Accordingly, his responsibilities include facilitating high-level engagement with international investors and strategic partners, strengthening investor confidence and supporting the Government’s efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Sri Lanka, identifying and promoting key investment opportunities and working in close coordination with the Board of Investment (BOI), the Export Development Board (EDB), the Port City Commission and relevant line ministries.

This initiative is expected to help build a favourable environment for sustainable foreign investment within the country, reaffirm international confidence in Sri Lanka’s current economic stability and accelerate economic development.

Mr Hanif Yusoof will undertake this role as a honourary service in addition to his duties as Governor of the Western Province.

President’s Media Division (PMD)

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Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof, has refuted reports claiming that he is leaving the government, stating that they are baseless and untrue.

Issuing a statement, Hanif Yusoof said he stands firm in his commitment to the President’s vision.

“I have dedicated myself fully to the mission of rebuilding our nation, without pause or hesitation,” he added. (Newswire)

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The Western Province Bus Sector Modernisation Task Force has reviewed and endorsed the roadmap for reform, aligning with the government’s priorities and the proposed World Bank-supported Bus Sector Modernisation Programme. 

Per the decision taken during the Task Force’s inaugural meeting, the Western Province will serve as a model for national rollout, with pilot initiatives to test and scale new operating structures, technologies, and infrastructure improvements.

Among the key outcomes of the meeting are:

1. Unanimous agreement on the need to modernise the bus sector through public-private collaboration, digital integration, and institutional reform.

2. Formal establishment of two subcommittees to lead action in critical reform areas:

• A Working Group on Cashless Payments and Digitalisation, tasked with coordinating fare system reform and digital ticketing, and engagement with technology providers.
• A Cluster Bus Company Working Group, mandated to oversee the rollout of a new cluster company model that brings together SLTB and private operators under professionally-managed regional operating entities.

3. Consensus to accelerate infrastructure planning, regulatory alignment through coordination with various Government agencies and stakeholders. 

It has also been decided that the Western Province Governor’s Office will serve as the Secretariat for the Task Force, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Transport. 

The first meeting of the Western Province Bus Sector Modernisation Task Force was held last week under the joint chairmanship of the Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Sr. Professor Kapila Perera.

The Task Force, which includes key stakeholders from the national and provincial transport authorities, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), private bus operators and trade unions, and the World Bank Group, was convened to provide strategic leadership and coordination for the transformation of the Western Province’s bus transport sector.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Yusoof reaffirmed his commitment to building a safer, cleaner, and more reliable public transport system in the Western Province. “Our goal is to create a transport system that respects the dignity of commuters, reduces congestion and emissions, and enables economic growth. Today’s meeting was an important step towards achieving that,” he said.

“This is not just a transport reform. It’s a quality-of-life reform. We are committed to delivering a bus system that is safe, modern, and works for everyone—from daily wage earners to students, from the elderly to working families,” the Governor further said.

The WP Governor and Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Sr. Professor Kapila Perera, thanked all Task Force members for their active participation and emphasised that this transformation effort must be people-centred and inclusive. (Newswire)

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A collection of books owned by the late Sri Lankan politician Mangala Samaraweera has been donated to the Colombo Public Library.

Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof, yesterday accepted the donation of over 100 books from the personal library of the late Mangala Samaraweera.

Taking to ‘X’, Hanif Yusoof said this generous gift, made by his family, reflects Mangala’s enduring belief in knowledge, learning, and dialogue. 

The full statement of the Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof, on the book donation;

Yesterday, I had the honour of accepting, on behalf of the Colombo Public Library and the Western Province, a remarkable donation of over 100 books from the personal library of the late Hon. Mangala Samaraweera @MangalaLK — one of Sri Lanka’s most visionary, principled, and forward-thinking leaders.

This generous gift, made by his family, reflects Mangala’s enduring belief in knowledge, learning, and dialogue. 

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to his family for this meaningful gesture, which ensures that his legacy of intellectual curiosity and progressive thought will continue to inspire generations to come.

I also wish to sincerely thank former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga @CBKsrilanka for graciously facilitating this contribution through the @BCISLKA, and for continuing to champion the values of inclusion, pluralism, and public service that Mangala embodied.

May his memory remain a guiding light for all of us. (Newswire)

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A discussion was held between Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof and World Bank representatives today (23 Apr), during which four key tourism projects were finalized. 

According to the Western Province Governor’s Office, the four key tourism projects are as follows;

1) Restoration of Colombo’s Colonial Heritage – Revitalizing historic buildings and tramway systems to create a cultural tourism hub.

2) River Cruise Along the Bentara River to Yagirala Rainforest – A 40-kilometer eco-tourism experience connecting river tourism with forest conservation.

3) Developing the Negombo Lagoon and Muthurajawela Wetlands  – Creating a nature-focused tourism corridor with environmental safeguards

4) Wreck Diving in Colombo – Developing shipwreck sites to attract high-value diving tourism while supporting marine conservation.

The Western Province Governor’s Office further said that the initiatives aim to drive sustainable tourism growth in the Western Province through a blend of history, culture, and biodiversity. 

It was also revealed that the next steps include establishing a joint working group, conducting feasibility assessments, and forming public-private partnerships. 

A heritage site walk-through in Colombo will soon be held to identify locations with historical importance, the Western Province Governor’s Office added. (Newswire)

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