Korea–Sri Lanka forum pushes for stronger investment ties

The "Korea–Sri Lanka Investment Facilitation Forum" was successfully held in Colombo with the aim of further strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation between Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea.

The forum, jointly organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), and the Korean Businessmen’s Association (KBA), took place on November 14, 2025, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Colombo.

The event was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Miyon Lee, and the Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurial Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe.

Addressing the forum, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe stated that the Sri Lankan government is highly committed to creating an investment-friendly environment, as outlined in the 2026 budget speech.

The Minister also invited Korean companies to establish their head offices and manufacturing centers in Sri Lanka and emphasized the government's ambition to develop a South Korean hub within the Port City, thereby expanding opportunities for investors.

The Korean business community was represented by figures including the President of the KBA, Yoonkook Chung. The Sri Lankan side's discussions were led by BOI Chairman Arjuna Herath and Director General Renuka M. Weerakone.

The forum highlighted the procedural barriers and challenges faced by Korean business representatives currently operating in Sri Lanka. Additionally, new Korean investors had the opportunity to raise issues and provide feedback regarding entering the Sri Lankan market.

Concluding the forum, Ambassador Miyon Lee acknowledged that the Sri Lankan government has made significant progress in creating an investor-friendly system. However, she further pointed out that additional improvement is necessary in the areas of policy clarity, transparency, and timely decision-making.