Gayani De Alwis presents at CILT International Convention 2017

1. International Convention 2017 Macao
Sri Lanka’s Perspective
on Belt and Road
Macao | 11-14 June 2017
by Gayani de Alwis
Vice Chairperson
CILT Sri Lanka
www.ciltinternational.orgInternational Convention 2017, Macao, Smart Journey Belt & Road

2. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Get to know Sri Lanka
 Population - 20.9Mn
 Land area - 65,332 sq.km
 GDP - 82.3 Bn USD
 GDP growth rate - 4.8%
 Composition of GDP
Agriculture - 7.9%
Industry - 26.2%
Services - 56.6%
Taxes - 9.3%
 Unemployment rate - 4.7%
 Life expectancy - 74.9 years
 Literacy rate - 93.2%
Source: Central Bank 2015

3. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Sri Lanka’s Geographical Positioning
 Sri Lanka is right at the center of
the global east west maritime
route
 50% of global containerized traffic
move pass Hambantota
 Colombo and Hambantota
are the main ports in SL

4. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Source: NASA
The History & Ancient Silk Road

5. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Our Historical involvement with Silk route
• Sri Lanka was well-known as "His-lan" and "Silan" by the ancient Chinese sailors
• Sri Lankan artefacts found from archaeological excavations of Beihei city Emperor’s
tomb in Guangxi Province and these artefacts arrived here through the
silk route.
• The Silk Route linked to Mediterranean through Sri Lanka and India.

6. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Trade with China
Exports
Position Description US$ Million %of total
contribution
1 Apparel 65.31 33
2 Tea 31.98 16
3 Vegetable & textile fiber 20.68 10
4 Footwear, gaiters & parts 18.39 09
5 Ores, slag, ash 7.67 04
6 Activated carbon 6.64 03
Source : Department commerce

7. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Hambantota Port

8. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Port City
“Sri Lanka is strengthening financial connectivity by establishing an off shore financial center.
In the Port City is a real estate development under OBOR initiative”
Sri Lankan PM Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe

9. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Opportunities
• Investment on Infrastructure
• Trading connectivity through increased
investment
• Improved trade and linkages with China and other
OBOR countries
• Potential of Sri Lanka to be a logistic hub
• Significant industry development

10. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Challenges
• Internal - Interest in quick results can affect progress
• External - Geopolitics of maritime security
“History has shown that peace and ‘freedom of navigation’
in the Indian Ocean always resulted in economic growth
and prosperity.” Sri Lankan PM R Wickramasinghe 2017
• Benefits for all over benefit for one concern
• Consumption based growth over Sustainable
Development – not connectivity to handle excess
manufacturing capacity of China

11. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
“The Belt and Road Initiative will provide the much-needed hard
and soft connectivity in the Indian Ocean region required for rapid
economic and social development.”

12. International Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road

13. International Convention 2017 MacaoInternational Convention 2017 Macao – Smart Journey Belt & Road
Thank you
Gayani de Alwis CMILT
Vice Chairperson CILT SL
Gdealwis@ymail.com
M+94773187447
www.ciltinternational.org13