In order to promote Foreign Direct Investment from Canada to Sri Lanka, a Trade and Investment Promotion Event was jointly organized by the Sri Lanka High Commission, Sri Lanka Consulate in Toronto and Corporate Finance Outsource Inc. who sponsored the event on 23rd May 2012 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.  A number of reputed Canadian Companies participated in this promotional event.

Mr. Kelly Ehler spoke of the existing investments of Corporate Finance Outsource and their “success story” in Sri Lanka while the  High Commissioner Ms  Chitranganee Wagiswara in her opening address outlined  the opportunities available for business entrepreneurs and investment consultants and spoke of the strategic location and  the inherent factors that make Sri Lanka an attractive destination for investment. With peace restored in the country since 2009, she informed the audience that Sri Lanka is being developed as an economic hub focusing on five areas of key activity which are the maritime hub, aviation hub, knowledge hub, commercial hub and energy hub.

Mr. H.M.B. Herath, Deputy Consul General (Commercial), made a detailed and informative power point presentation on trade and investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.  He dealt with the favourable factors that has made Sri Lanka an attractive destination and gave technical details of  the incentives and other factors that would make the business ventures competitive.  The Consul General for Sri Lanka in Toronto Mr. Karunarathna Paranawithana was also associated with the event and the team answered many queries that were raised on current economic and trade developments in Sri Lanka.

Many of the participants were keen to locate their production facilities in Asia. Following the information provided  the interest to establish their production facilities in Sri Lanka was positive and as  a first step towards obtaining a wider knowledge of the potential in the country some  of the participants  indicated  their willingness to visit the country