RIYADH, 4 September 2007 — Enterprising Saudis have come forward to invest in the former stronghold of LTTE, now controlled by government forces in Sri Lanka, the leader of the island’s trade delegation who wrapped up a 48-hour visit to the Kingdom yesterday, told Arab News.
“There are 8,000 hectares of cultivable lands in the newly captured Thoppigala area in the Eastern province where several agricultural crops could be produced,” Sarath De Silva, leader of the seven-member delegation said, adding that a number of Saudi businessmen wants to undertake agricultural projects in these arable lands on a joint venture basis for mutual benefits.
Toppigala, also known as Baron’s Cap (or Kudumbimalai in Tamil) is located north west of Batticaloa, eastern capital of the island situated some 300kms from Colombo. The area is made up of thick jungle where paddy and seasonal (chena) cultivations could be successfully carried out. It is fed by water from Tharavikulam, Vadamunai and Vakaneri tanks. “The European Union had certified that the agro products from this region will be organic,” Silva stressed.
“These fertile lands could be fruitfully cultivated with an investment of around $300 million and one Saudi businessman promptly agreed to take over 100 acres of land for necessary cultivation,” he said, hoping that others would follow suit. Silva pointed out that since no cultivation has taken place in these lands for the past two decades, their produce would be organic. The crops that could be successfully harvested include pulses, grains, chilies, fruits and vegetables.
The visiting team which was on its first leg of its regional tour to Bahrain and Oman, met Hamad Al-Humeidan, deputy secretary general of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) at his office on Saturday and held one-on-one business meetings with Saudi businessmen. W.S.M.S Wijesundera, charge d’ affairs of the Sri Lankan Embassy also participated in the trade discussions.
The Sri Lankan team comprised H.M.A.U.B.Herath, product manager Chemical Industries Colombo; H.J.De Silva, Eastern Merchants Limited; Pabash Komblavithana, Imperial Teas; Nural Imtheyaz Ovais, chairperson Ohlum Clinic and Laboratories; Azif Aza Razeen, Management Accountant Rileys Limited; and Shamila Nagasena, executive international marketing of Samson Rubber Industries.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at SR756 million in favor of Saudi Arabia, Humeidan said. The Kingdom has exported urea, copper and copper products, petroleum products and plastic products to Sri Lanka valued at SR634 million.