Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party and Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake has emphasized that while investment is crucial for economic growth, Sri Lanka has yet to create the conducive environment necessary to attract it.
Addressing the media, Karunanayake pointed out that the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have, in some ways, complicated the investment climate, making it harder to draw in much-needed foreign capital.
“Investors will only come when a country offers exceptional opportunities,” he said, adding that foreign investors are reluctant to enter markets where the economic fundamentals and support structures are weak or uncertain.
Karunanayake stressed that simply having investment potential is not enough—there must also be a stable economic background, transparent regulations, and investor-friendly infrastructure.
He urged the government to engage in proactive discussions with the IMF to ensure that the conditions created by ongoing reforms do not discourage investment, but rather, foster confidence among international stakeholders.
“The government must work with the IMF, not just for economic restructuring, but also to encourage and facilitate the flow of investments into the country,” he said.
