Sri Lanka has great potential in expanding vistas in investment, tourism and other sectors that will immensely contribute towards the rapid development drive initiated by the government, stated Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena addressing the third in a series of press briefings in New Delhi on the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards.

High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam, Sri Lanka’s envoy to India said at the briefing that Sri Lanka and India are bound by a common civilization.

‘Sri Lanka just like India is a multiethnic and multicultural nation where four major religions and a number of ethnic groups now live harmoniously’. He expressed confidence that IIFA in Sri Lanka will be a successful event and added that Colombo is ready to welcome IIFA.

Indian cinema super star Anil Kapoor said that IIFA’s journey over the last ten years has opened many doors to the Indian industry in the host country. He said that he is excited about visiting Sri Lanka, for the first time. Since the two nations share a lot in common, he expected that visiting Sri Lanka would be like a home-coming.

Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe who addressed the briefing said that the national carrier is proud to have been nominated as the official airline of the event.

Legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, Director of Sri Lanka Cricket Suraj Dandeniya and Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Dileep Mudadeniya also participated.