Azmi Thassim, the new Sri Lankan ambassador to the Kingdom, pinned great hope that the proposed Free Zone project, to be developed by the Saudi-based Gammon Middle East Group, would be instrumental in spearheading a development boom in Sri Lanka. He made the remarks after meeting with Sheikh Rafik Mohammed, chairman of Gammon Group, in Jeddah recently.

Thassim discussed with Mohammed the progress of the project. The ambassador promised all support from the embassy to speed up procedures for the project. “The ambitious project is expected to create jobs for a large number of people affected by conflict in the region,” he said.

Acting Consul General of Sri Lanka Muhammad Ansar, Gammon Group CEO Dr. Faiz Al-Abideen, Muhammad Nias, Muhammad Al-Arabi, Khaled Saleh Al-Sayari, Abdullah Al-Obaidi, and Gammon Aviation Managing Director Safar Ahmed also attended the meeting.

The Sri Lankan government and the Gammon Group had reached a preliminary agreement with regard to implementing the Free Zone and some other projects worth a total of $1.2 billion during a meeting between Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Mohammed in Colombo in July this year.

Colombo had already conveyed to the Gammon Group that it was ready to hand over 700-800 acres of land in Polonnaruwa and Valachchenai in the eastern province of the country, for the setting up of the Free Zone and a Knowledge City, which are expected to play a critical role in the economic development of the post-Civil War Sri Lanka.

The project will be developed in the pattern of Dubai Free Zone projects, said Mohammed. “The Lankan government was very much interested in associating with the Gammon Group in developing the Free Zone in the island nation’s eastern province with a sizable population of Tamils of Indian origin. The Gammon Group officials held detailed discussions with Dr. Harsha de Silva, deputy minister of foreign affairs, and Upul Jayasuriya, chairman, Board of Investments of Sri Lanka, regarding the proposed Free Zone Industrial Sector, hospitals, roads and many other projects, following the initial meeting with President Sirisena,” he said adding that the overall progress of the talks were briefed to the ambassador.

(Saudi Gazette)