Investors and industry players in Sri Lanka should seize the opportunity to choose Malaysia as their preferred investment destination, the visiting Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister said in Colombo.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said many business people, especially investors, overlook Malaysia as a safe haven for investments. He said Sri Lanka achieved foreign direct investments worth some USD 2billion from companies in Malaysia involving various sectors.

"To ensure balance, we hope more investors from Sri Lanka will come forward to invest in Malaysia. I am sure the investment climate along with other incentives offered in Malaysia will be able to draw them," he said in his speech during a dinner with the Malaysian diaspora in Sri Lanka here on Thursday night.

Zahid said Malaysia's High Commission office in Sri Lanka has to play an important role in guiding more investors from Malaysia to promote their business here and brief them on the business opportunities in Sri Lanka.

(New Straits Times)