More than 370 companies including 70 SMEs are exhibiting at the three-day show.

It was organized by the Export Development Board (EDB) under the direct supervision of Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen .

More than 1,400 international trade visitors from 60 countries besides ministers from various nations and foreign media personalities are attending the mega event.

Inaugurating the show, President Rajapaksa said the unprecedented response from the international business community amply demonstrated the confidence of foreign investors.

“Our country was on a “path of peace and reconciliation and is open for foreign investments,” he noted.

The government is committed to reconciliation, he said commenting on the large participation from the various countries.

Sri Lanka is prepared to “walk that extra mile to establish permanent peace through reconciliation,” the President said. He asserting however, that “no one has to tell us what to do.”

The president spoke of the new key developments taking place around the country including the expansion plans of airports, sea ports and road networks to cater to the growing demands.

Attributing increased investor confidence in the country to the doubling of FDIs last year and net inflows of the Colombo Stock Exchange cited as “encouraging”.

Rajapaksa said foreign investors are ready to place their trust in Sri Lanka Development Bonds” and the new initial public offerings on the CSE.

“It is noteworthy that this event, Sri Lanka Expo – 2012, takes place after a lapse of 15 years in a climate that seeks to integrate trade, and the widest range of activities in export related investment in a single arena. This gap of 15 years requires some explanation. It is nearly half the period when this country suffered the worst brutalities of terrorism. It is the period when business turned away from us because of the forces of terror that had some support from certain countries. As you can see at this event and as you travel freely in our country and also as you interact with your business partners and counterparts it will be very clear to you that the period of conflict is now over,” President Rajapaksa said.

The President said the presence of investors also indicates the failure of the efforts of those who still support the agenda of separatist terror that prevented development in Sri Lanka for more than three decades.

Minister Bathiudeen said: “The small and medium scale entrepreneurs, who are the back-bone of our national economy, too, are taking part in this show for the first time. Their products are exhibited through, 70 SME display stalls, specially setup for them.

” I am pleased to say that this is the first time, that Sri Lanka’s SME sector is being assimilated, to the global export supply chain, in this manner thereby serving our long term national objective, of integrating this sector, to promising international markets. It also makes us proud, that over 1,400 foreign representatives from around the world, along with several foreign Ministerial and official delegations, have specially arrived in Sri Lanka, just to take part in this event. I am pleased to observe that this event, which was earlier called as a national event, has now successfully transformed, into an international event. All these factors assure me, that the crucial proof of the international buyer confidence, on Sri Lanka continues to grow unabated, despite a climate of global economic downturn. It is also clear testimony to the emergence of Sri Lanka Branding in the global marketplace,” Bathiudeen said.