A Sri Lanka delegation headed by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeyasinghe, held a productive discussion with senior officials of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) at the PIF Headquarters in Riyadh on 25 January 2026.
During the meeting, Minister Abeyasinghe made a detailed presentation highlighting Sri Lanka’s competitive advantages and investment opportunities. The discussion also provided a platform to showcase the investment potential of Sri Lanka’s capital market. Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Chief Executive Officer of the Colombo Stock Exchange, briefed the PIF officials on Sri Lanka’s new policies and regulatory reforms aimed at strengthening investor confidence and facilitating sustainable market growth.
PIF Senior Director, Mulham Albakree, shared details of the Fund’s Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, highlighting key areas of international investment interest. He also emphasized the importance of concluding a Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia. Both sides agreed to open a channel of communication to follow up matters that were discussed during the meeting.
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, briefed the meeting on the status of existing bilateral agreements, including the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation between the two countries.
Mr. M. Ray Abeywardena, Director of the Colombo Stock Exchange; Mr. Tushara Jayaratne, Officer-in-Charge / Deputy Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka; Mr. Niroshan Wijesundere, Senior Vice President – Marketing of the Colombo Stock Exchange; and Ms. Tashma Vithanawasam, First Secretary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka, were also present at the discussions.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and one of the largest and most influential sovereign wealth funds globally. PIF plays a central role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by driving economic diversification, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainable long-term growth. PIF manages a globally diversified investment portfolio across strategic sectors including energy, mining, infrastructure, logistics, manufacturing, tourism, real estate, technology, healthcare, financial services, and capital markets.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Riyadh
28.01.2026
