Sri Lanka's High Commission in the Maldives hosted an investor forum in Malé to showcase Port City Colombo as an economic hub for regional business expansion, attracting senior Maldivian business leaders and investors.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in the Maldives, partnering with CHEC Port City Colombo, convened an exclusive investor forum in Malé on August 10th, bringing together prominent Maldivian business figures and investors. The event represents part of Port City Colombo's broader strategy to engage regional investors across the Indian Ocean, following similar forums held in Singapore, the UAE, and Oman earlier in the year.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner Mohamed Rizvi Hassen highlighted the complementary relationship between the two nations, emphasizing shared geography, culture, and long-standing people-to-people connections. He framed Port City Colombo as an opportunity to deepen economic ties beyond traditional sectors. Keynote speaker Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz, Chairperson of Visit Maldives Corporation, endorsed the development as a transformative platform, noting visible infrastructure progress including connected utilities, occupied office spaces, and an operational duty-free mall.
Port City Colombo's investment proposition addresses specific constraints faced by Maldivian businesses seeking regional expansion. Operating as a foreign currency-designated special economic zone under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act 2021, it offers 100% foreign ownership, full capital and profit repatriation, and transactions in 16 designated currencies. The presence of Sri Lankan banks in the Maldives—Bank of Ceylon, Commercial Bank of Ceylon, and Hatton National Bank—provides familiar financial gateways. Commercial Bank of Ceylon's branch within the SEZ offers direct banking services for Maldivian operators.
The 269-hectare master-planned city was presented as strategically positioned for Maldivian businesses aiming to establish South Asian operations. Officials emphasized the geographical proximity—described as a short flight from Malé to Colombo—and existing familiarity between banking and business communities as key advantages for market entry and expansion.
