The recent tsunami tidal attack on Sri Lanka has brought Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka closer than ever.
The Saudi government, various non-governmental organizations and Saudi philanthropists offered their unstinted cooperation in helping the survivors of the island. “Sri Lankans felt secured during the aftermath of the calamity because of the support and assistance given by friendly countries specially Saudi Arabia,” said the Sri Lankan Ambassador Ibrahim Sahib Ansar.
The Kingdom rushed five planeloads of relief materials to Colombo. Officials from non-governmental organizations such as the Saudi Red Crescent Society (SRCS), International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO), World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Shabab Group were present at the tsunami affected areas to console the survivors and provided them with various forms of relief items. A special team headed by the president of the SRCS, Dr. Abdul Rahman Sweilem visited most of the tsunami ravaged areas to identify the nature of relief work.
The Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, Prince Waleed ibn Talal who met Ambassador Ansar, Tuesday, had pledged a substantial sum to Sri Lanka from his donation of SR70 million toward tsunami affected countries in South Asia. “The Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kuamratunga has extended a special invitation to Prince Waleed to visit the tsunami ravaged areas and to explore investment opportunities in the island,” the envoy added.
Princess Sarah bint Sultan ibn Abdul Aziz, Princess Maha bint Abdul Aziz and Prince Turki ibn Abdul Aziz also made personal donations for tsunami fund. Other major Saudi donors included Khalifa Al-Gosaibi Holding Company, Yusuf Ahmed Al- Dossary, the CEO of Al-Marai, Abdul Rahman Al-Fadhli and Seder Group of Companies.
“The signing of the General Agreement on Economic, Trade, Investment, Scientific, Technical, Cultural, Youth and Sports Cooperation between the two countries was a landmark event in the bilateral relations between the two countries,” Ansar said, and adding that it has paved the way for new areas of cooperation in various fields. As a result , he said Saudi investors have begun to show more interests in the island since it safeguards the interests of investors from both countries.
According to the envoy, Al-Jammaz Group of Companies and Kingdom’s Hotel Investment Holding Company have indicated positive signals of investing in agricultural and hotel industry respectively. More than 10 Saudi companies are currently engaged in various business ventures. Potentially lucrative ventures for Saudi investors in Sri Lanka include projects such as power generation, construction of sea ports, telecommunications, water services, areas in agriculture and food processing besides construction of infrastructure facilities such as houses and warehouses.
The bilateral trade between the two countries is to the tune of $101.61 million with the balance in favor of the Kingdom. The island’s exports to the Kingdom stood at $28.91 million while its imports from the Kingdom were estimated at $72.70 million. Saudi exports to Sri Lanka include crude oil, urea, platinum, copper wire, paper board and glass.
Sri Lankan exports to the Kingdom are tea, garments, coir, fiber, fruits and vegetables, cut-flowers, leather goods and porcelain products. Sri Lanka opened its mission in Jeddah in 1984 with the Kingdom reciprocating with a mission in Colombo a decade later. In 2003, the Saudi mission was upgraded to ambassadorial level with Mohamed Mahmud Al-Ali as first Saudi ambassador in Colombo.
Ansar who will lead the Sri Lanka’s delegation at tomorrow’s International Conference on Terror to be held in Riyadh, pointed out that his country shares the concerns of the Kingdom in the fight against terrorism. “Being a victim of terror, Sri Lanka will be an active participant in the conference,” he added. The Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Defense and former Chief of Staff Major General Seneviratne will be a member of the Sri Lankan team. Saudi Arabia is home to 350,000 Sri Lankans. The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), an organization under the Ministry of Labor and Employment, coordinates the deployment of Sri Lankan workers to various parts of the globe, including the Kingdom.
Recently, the two countries signed a unified contract to incorporate the rights and privileges of employees as well as the employers. “It has cut down several labor problems and has increased the number of Sri Lankans coming into the Kingdom,” Ansar said, while pointing out that it has also eliminated the corruptions of the middlemen in the recruitment process.
The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has been instrumental in financing several projects in the island. The recent construction of a neuro-trauma unit in the Colombo National Hospital and a bridge in Kinniya were mainly funded by SFD.
In the early 1980s, the Kingdom gave financial assistance to Sri Lanka for various projects. In 1981, SR99.9 million in credit was extended by the Kingdom for the second stage of the water supply and sewage project and another SR48.1 million for the Mahaweli Ganga Development project system B. In 1984 the Kingdom provided SR85 million for the Mahaweli Ganga Development Project system B left bank.
To open new trading opportunities for businessmen in all parts of the globe, including Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka has also opened an online trading platform.
Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board (EDB) which is at the forefront of developing the island’s products and services has launched a new website. www.srilankabusiness.com is the portal for leveraging the Internet for showcasing the country’s products and services in the world market. The Board of Investment (BOI) headquartered in Colombo offers a wide range of incentives for foreign investors.
With the restoration of peace in the island, Sri Lanka has regained its position as a popular tourist destination. From the earliest times it has been a land of endless attractions for visitors from all parts of the world. UNESCO has designated five sites in Sri Lanka as World Heritage Sites.
“The tourists traffic from the Kingdom to Colombo has considerably increased and most of the Saudis are going either on business or leisure with their families. The Sri Lanka Tourist Board has reported a 27 percent increase in tourist arrivals and more than 500,000 tourists have visited the island during the first half of 2004.
Sri Lankan Airlines provides convenient connections to Indian cities and South Eastern destinations. Saudi Arabian Airlines also has four direct flights to Colombo as does Sri Lankan Airlines.
Attractive tour packages are available for tourists and businessmen. Foreign airlines such as Emirates, Gulf Air and Royal Jordanian Airlines fly to Colombo and offer stopovers.
The Sri Lankan Expatriates Society (SLES) in the capital functions under the umbrella of the Riyadh mission. It runs a free medical clinic besides funding deserving projects back at home.
The SLES played a predominant role in the tsunami relief efforts undertaken by the embassy. It donated medical equipment to Sri Lankan hospitals. The society built 100 houses for flood victims in central parts of the island and also donated medical equipment to the Jaffna Hospital in the north of the island. Similar Sri Lankan service-oriented organizations are also found in Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah and Taif.
Two community schools in Riyadh and Jeddah cater to the educational needs of Sri Lankans.