Madhya Pradesh firms urged to invest in Lanka

Anuradha Kodagoda

The recent defeat of terrorism has opened the way for rapid economic development and has created the opportunity for fruitful co-operation between the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and Sri Lanka, said Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

He was addressing a seminar organized by the Federation of MP Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the Noor-Us-Sabha Palace Hotel in Bhopal recently.

The Minister described the wealth of opportunities available for Madhya Pradesh firms to join in Sri Lanka's growth. Pointing out that the Vihara at Sanchi, near Bhopal, represented a symbol of Indo-Lanka co-operation, both in the past and at present, he appealed to the captains of industry of Madhya Pradesh to consider collaborative enterprises with Sri Lanka, official sources said.

Speaking at the seminar, he said: "Madhya Pradesh has no coastal belt, so Sri Lanka would provide an ideal place to make a trade link and tourist link with. Sri Lanka is already co-operating in developing the sacred site at Sanchi, and further common partnership possible."

The source also said Pratap Verma, Secretary, Federation of MP Chambers of Commerce and Industry made a presentation on socio-economic co-operation between Sri Lanka and India with special focus on Madhya Pradesh.

He pointed out that while Madhya Pradesh was five times larger in area than Sri Lanka and had three times the population, Sri Lanka's per capita income was almost four times higher.

He detailed several areas for potential collaboration and requested that Colombo and Bhopal be linked as twin cities and that daily flights be established between the two cities.

Dr. Meera Dass, convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, made a presentation at the event on the integrated development plan of the heritage city of Ujjain.