Port City Colombo welcomed a high-level delegation from the Sultanate of Oman earlier this month, marking another step in the growing investment and commercial engagement between Oman and Sri Lanka.
The delegation was led by Pankaj Khimji, Adviser for Foreign Trade and International Cooperation at Oman’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and included Ahmed Al Rashdi, Ambassador of Oman to Sri Lanka, and Moosa Al Kharusi, Projects Division Director at the Ministry’s Adviser’s Office.
Strengthening Bilateral Investment Cooperation
The visit follows Port City Colombo’s engagement in Muscat earlier this year, where the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and CHEC Port City Colombo conducted an investor forum and held meetings with key Omani government and business stakeholders, including the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) and Invest Oman.
The Omani delegation’s visit represents a continuation of these discussions and reflects growing mutual interest in strengthening investment connections between Oman and Sri Lanka, as well as building stronger links between Oman and the wider South Asian region.
During the engagement at Port City Colombo, a roundtable discussion focused on bilateral investment opportunities, the Oman–South Asia Investment and Trade Corridor, collaboration between the respective Special Economic Zones, and pathways for Omani companies to participate in Port City Colombo’s SEZ ecosystem.
Port City Colombo as a Gateway to South Asia
The discussions highlighted the potential for greater two-way investment and business engagement between Oman and Sri Lanka.
Port City Colombo’s Special Economic Zone provides an internationally oriented platform for businesses seeking to establish operations in Sri Lanka and access opportunities across South Asian markets. At the same time, Oman’s position as a regional business and trade hub provides opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses seeking connections to wider markets.
Speaking during the engagement, Revan Wickramasuriya, Director General of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to maintaining a transparent, fair and facilitative environment for businesses operating within the SEZ.
He noted that investors are treated equitably under the Commission’s regulatory framework, supporting business activity with clarity, consistency and institutional credibility regardless of the size or origin of the investment.
Growing Oman–Sri Lanka Commercial Relations
Existing trade relations provide a foundation for further investment and commercial cooperation between the two countries.
Bilateral trade turnover between Oman and Sri Lanka reached approximately US$223 million in 2022, compared with US$118 million in 2018, highlighting the growth in commercial relations between the two markets.
The discussions in Colombo emphasised the opportunity to build further on these existing economic ties by strengthening investment and trade connections between Oman, Sri Lanka and South Asia.
Growing Investment Momentum at Port City Colombo
The engagement forms part of Port City Colombo’s broader programme of international and Gulf outreach.
With more than 175 companies registered within the SEZ and over US$1 billion in investment secured between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, Port City Colombo continues to attract international business interest.
The continued engagement between Oman and Sri Lanka reflects the potential for stronger bilateral investment cooperation and reinforces Port City Colombo’s role as a platform connecting businesses with opportunities in Sri Lanka and the wider South Asian region.
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