Sri Lanka is at the forefront of developing countries which has the capability to attract foreign investment, said a group of Japanese MPs.

This was mentioned when a group of Japanese MPs met Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratna at the Prime Minister's official residence yesterday.

A media release from the Prime Minister’s office said that the Japanese delegation was of the opinion that if the Sri Lankan government could improve the infrastructure facilities immediately it could come on top of all other developing nations in attracting foreign directed investments.

President of the Japan Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association, Hirofumi Hirano and Director Generals of the association, Toshiro Ishii and Hitoshi Hasegawa met Prime Minister Jayaratne in a bid to enhance the bilateral relations between the two nations.

The Japanese delegation pointed out that in order to increase the flow of Foreign Direct Investment to the country the prevailing infrastructure facilities should be further developed and expanded. They also affirmed that Government of Japan is committed to support Sri Lanka in this regard.

It is the need of the hour to develop the infrastructure facilities required to revamp the earnings from the tourism sector since Sri Lanka is famous as an exquisite tourist destination. In connection, the delegation of Japanese MPs stressed that with the dawn of peace after a bitter period of civil strife the image of Sri Lanka as a major tourist hot spot has been further strengthened.

Prime Minister Jayaratne in reply said that Korea and Iran has already commenced large scale capital investments in the country. Premier greatly appreciated the assistance provided by the Government of Japan to Sri Lanka during the period of civil war and expressed the need to obtain further mutual aid from Japan.

The rate of growth of Gross Domestic Product in Sri Lanka during the second quarter of the year is 8.5%. The peaceful environment prevailing within the country has greatly catalysed this exponential growth in the economy. In this regard Prime Minister expressed the need to gain international assistance to sustain the rate of growth so achieved.

Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Kunio Takahashi was also present during the discussion.