President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Turkey-Sri Lanka Business Forum said he was confident that the businessmen and industrialists will look at Sri Lanka with positive perspective and invited them to visit Sri Lanka and experience what Sri Lanka has to offer.

President thanked the Confederation of Businessman and Industrialist of Turkey (TUSKON) for arranging this meeting and for the large participation by the Turkish business community. He said that in the past few days he had been very cordially received and had excellent bilateral discussions with the President and Ministers of Turkey and members of the Turkey business community. These discussions show much promise for the improved trade relations between Sri Lanka and Turkey. The historic relations between the two countries make it easy to enhance trade and investment relations in many areas of activities.

Tourism is one area in which such enhancement can take place. There were also other areas especially in industry for Turkey was well known such as infrastructure development, especially in airport construction and major industrial activity in which the two countries can cooperate. He said the presentations to be made by BOI Sri Lanka will help Turkey businessmen to make concrete decisions about investment in Sri Lanka and explore ways and means of doing this.

Addresses by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Minister of Industrial Development Mano Wijeiratne will be followed by the Chairmen of BOI Sri Lanka and National Gem and Jewelry Authority.

Nearly 100 businessmen from Turkey especially from Istanbul took part in this Forum.

The Sri Lankan business delegation comprised Foreign Minister Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Enterprise Development Mr. Mano Wijeratne Chairman of BOI Sri Lanka Mr. Dhammika Perera, senior officers of BOI, Mr. K. L. Chandralal de Silva Chairman Bettans Group of Company, Ms. Secille Kothalawala Deputy Chairman of Ceylinco Consolidate, Mr. Noordin Mashood Chairman Junaita Pvt. Ltd., Mr. W. K. H. Wegapitiya Chairman Laufs Holdings Ltd., Mr. Sureish Hashim Managing Director Alchip (Ceylon) Ltd., Mr. Muhamad Salahudeen Chairman Mushan International and representatives of Gem and Jewelry Authority.