If you want to be adventurous try Sri Lanka. Very...

If you want to be adventurous try Sri Lanka. Very beautiful

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In the last five years, its per capita GDP has doubled. At the end of 2008, GDP per capita stood at $2,000, which the country hopes to increase to $5,000 in the next five years.

The country’s main USP remains its vast stretch of rich natural resources and it is currently focusing on creating state-of-the-art, world-class infrastructure in order to create an environment that is conducive for investors and businessmen.

“We are making unprecedented investments in the infrastructure sector, from ports to roads and the railway network. We have at present an infrastructure portfolio of $2 billion. This will be the main driver of our GDP (gross domestic product) growth,” said Sarath Amunugama, minister of public administration, home affairs and deputy minister of finance and planning, Sri Lanka.

To facilitate growth, Sri Lanka’s aid architecture has been transformed; traditional donors in the West have been supplanted by India, China, Japan, Iran and Libya. Located midway between the Middle East and East Asia, Sri Lanka is well positioned to become a hub for financial services, IT and telecom.

The minister said that the country’s proximity to India gives it an edge over other countries in terms of trade and investment. He, however, expressed concern over India’s high level of duties.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/india-eco-summit-sri-lanka-woos-foreign-investors/375928/
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2009 has been a important year for Sri Lanka with the declaration of peace allowing the country’s many historic, natural and cultural marvels to take centre stage.

The improved safety and security situation and recent relaxations of FCO advice have opened up the areas of Yala National Park which boasts a variety of wildlife including the highest density of wild leopards worldwide, Arugam Bay – a world renowned surfing mecca, and much of the east coast including the historic port of Trincomalee – an up and coming place to wreck dive. These important additions complement Sri Lanka’s tropical beaches, tea plantations, cave temples and wild elephants that British visitors have been coming to see for many years

http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/34020-The-start-of-a-new-exciting-era-for-Sri-Lanka-tourism

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June 18 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka’s economy can bounce back from its weakest growth in six years and become the “Hong Kong of India” as the end of almost three decades of civil war boosts business opportunities, HSBC Private Bank said.

Decades of fighting on the Indian Ocean island shackled its $32 billion economy, which according to figures released yesterday expanded 1.5 percent last quarter from a year earlier as the global recession intensified the slowdown. Ports, retailers, apparel and tea exporters could lead a recovery after the Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated last month.

“The rebound will be spectacular,” said Arjuna Mahendran, the Singapore-based chief investment strategist for Asia at HSBC Private Bank, which oversees $494 billion in assets. “To start with, Sri Lanka’s location gives its port a natural advantage.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aYNQnC6f.ZBM