The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) and CHEC Port City Colombo Pvt. Ltd., hosted a high-level investment promotion event in Dubai to showcase the opportunities available at Port City Colombo, Sri Lanka’s premier Special Economic Zone and emerging international business destination. The event titled “Globalization and the Sri Lankan Opportunity; Recovery to Relevance: Sri Lanka’s Moment in the Evolving Global and Regional Economy,” took place on 11 June 2026, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dubai. This event brought together investors, business leaders, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, property developers, real estate companies and members of the Sri Lankan and international business community in the United Arab Emirates to explore investment, trade, and partnership opportunities within Port City Colombo, a gateway to South Asia.

This exclusive Port City Promotion event was graced by the participation of President’s Special Envoy on Foreign Direct Investments for Sri Lanka, Hanif Yusoof; Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, Harsha Amarasekera, P.C. and senior officials of the Port City Commission and the CHEC Port City Colombo Pvt. Ltd.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UAE, Prof. Arusha Cooray, provided an overview of UAE-Sri Lanka trade relations. This was followed by the keynote address of Senior Vice President/Director General’s Office for Dubai Silicon Oasis, Ghanim Al Falasi who related the success story of Dubai as a global hub and emphasized the importance of the strategic access provided by Colombo Port City to the South Asia Region. He highlighted that collaboration between Sri Lanka and the UAE is mutually beneficial, considering the strategic location of the Colombo Port City. Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, Harsha Aamarasekera, P.C. introduced the Colombo Port City, highlighting the importance of partnering with this Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sri Lanka.

President’s Special Envoy on Foreign Direct Investments for Sri Lanka, Hanif Yusoof enlightened the gathering on strategic perspectives, with special attention on Sri Lanka’s commitment to economic growth and the contribution of Colombo Port City.  He further highlighted the contribution of similar projects in the UAE which resulted in branding Dubai as a global trade hub. He underscored that Sri Lanka is seeking partnerships from the UAE and encouraged attendees to reach out for meaningful collaborations. His insightful remarks ensured that attendees were well- informed about the investment opportunities in the Colombo Port City, which provides wide access to other regions due to its strategic location.

The Director General of the Colombo Port City Commission, Revan Wickramasuriya provided an overview on the Colombo Port City highlighting the latest developments within the Special Economic Zone, including its investment framework, incentives, business registration processes, and upcoming projects. He also noted opportunities to engage directly with CPCEC officials and explore potential avenues for collaboration which was followed by an insightful panel discussion.

Strategically located at the heart of South Asia, Port City Colombo is being developed as a world class, service oriented Special Economic Zone offering a modern regulatory framework, investment friendly policies, state of the art infrastructure, and seamless connectivity to regional and global markets. The project is expected to attract significant foreign direct investment and position Sri Lanka as a competitive hub for finance, technology, logistics, IT/ ITEC, professional services, and innovation in the South Asia Region.

Delivering the closing remarks, Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Alexi Gunasekera mentioned that “The UAE and Sri Lanka share longstanding economic ties and a strong partnership in trade and investment. This event aims to introduce investors and business leaders in the region to the exceptional opportunities available in Port City Colombo and to strengthen economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and the Gulf region. When the Port City’s story is written in golden letters, I want all of you to be a part of that successful story.” He underscored that Sri Lanka invites potential investors to be part of this technological marvel in the South Asia Region, making it a success story that will be remembered in the years to come.

Port City Colombo is envisioned as a future ready smart city and South Asia’s business hub that will contribute significantly to Sri Lanka’s economic transformation, creating new opportunities for investors while enhancing the country’s connectivity with global markets.

This event, executed by Team Evention led by Sam Fernando, the event management company, concluded with resounding success celebrating record attendance from high-level dignitaries from the UAE, CEOs, Chairmen, business leaders, and investors across various sectors such as logistics, real estate, banking, and IT. This successful event well apprised the dignitaries on the investment opportunities in the Colombo Port City leading to impactful discussions and meaningful collaborations over a networking lunch. 

Consulate General of Sri Lanka

Dubai and Northern Emirates

15 June 2026