Colombo Port City is attracting growing international business interest, with 68 newly gazetted companies classified as businesses of strategic importance (Tier 2) committing approximately US$166.87 million in investments over the next five years.
The companies represent several countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Some are also registered in offshore financial centres such as the British Virgin Islands.
The development reflects growing interest in Colombo Port City as a base for international business operations, particularly in information technology (IT), business process outsourcing (BPO) and professional services.
According to a technical analysis of Port City Gazette notifications dated October 11, 2026, the 68 companies were listed under Gazette Notification No. 2483/18–85, published on April 10, 2026.
Among the companies registered in the British Virgin Islands, Bridge Stone Global has declared an investment of US$5 million. Masterock and Modern Mark Development have announced investments of US$1.18 million and US$100,000, respectively.
The list also includes companies registered in Sri Lanka and other foreign jurisdictions for which no parent company is specified in the published investment classification.
These include Malaysia-based Casa BPO Sdn. Bhd., with an investment of US$14.87 million; US-based Ren XYZ Inc., with US$45 million; and Australian company Kodez, with US$1 million.
Other companies without a parent company listed in the classification include US-registered Aurion Engineering LLC, which has declared an investment of US$600,000, and Canada-based Pravy Consulting Inc., with US$100,000.
The absence of parent company details in the published classification has raised questions about the ownership structures of businesses entering the Port City ecosystem and the identification of their ultimate beneficial owners.
However, the absence of a parent company in the relevant documentation does not necessarily mean that a company has no ultimate beneficial owner or that its ownership information has not been disclosed to the regulator.
Source: The Sunday Morning
