Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit focuses on Ditwah, reforms and growth

The conversation then shifted to the quality of the recovery, with attention on whether recent stabilisation is translating into durable, investment-driven expansion.

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THE Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2025, the flagship annual forum of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, opened yesterday with over 800 participants, including 100 foreign delegates.

Originally planned around the theme “Gateway to Growth: Asia's Emerging Opportunity”, the summit's agenda in the aftermath of the devastating effects of Cyclone Ditwah instead became a conversation on national resilience, near-term recovery and the task of rebuilding stability after the debt crisis.

Opening the event, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Krishan Balendra said the disaster had altered the national mood and the purpose of the summit. He noted that the Chamber had paused its original program to reflect on the loss of life and widespread destruction, and said the business community was working with Government agencies to support relief operations.

Balendra said the summit, now in its twenty-fifth year, would proceed with a revised focus to examine how the country can recover quickly, safeguard macroeconomic stability and preserve the gains made since the economic collapse in 2022. All funds originally earmarked for social activities will be redirected to relief work.

Despite the immediate crisis, he said Sri Lanka remained on a credible path of economic recovery, with inflation stabilising, confidence improving, growth nearing 5%, domestic debt restructuring completed and stronger inflows from exports, tourism and remittances. International institutions, including the IMF and the World Bank, had also signalled confidence in the reform trajectory.

Balendra said the strong turnout of over 800 delegates, including more than 100 foreign participants, reflected renewed investor interest in the country's medium-term prospects and its position in the Indian Ocean.