Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena today said that various inaccurate opinions are being expressed regarding foreign investments in Sri Lanka and that certain forces are operating against such investments.

The minister rejected recent media reports alleging that the development project ‘Katana City,’ a resort city inclusive of casinos, has been granted approval by the Board of Investment (BoI).

“Not even a proposal (for the project) has been accepted,” he said.

When the Board of Investment has not even accepted such a proposal, various statements have been made and reports published in newspapers that ‘Katana City’ is going to be built, he said.

Abeywardena stated that the BoI still does not even know whether they have even received such a proposal.

The Minister stated that there is a certain force which is operating against investments gained by the country.

“That is because the only way to overthrow this government is by preventing investment from being made and weakening the country’s economy.”

“The government can only be toppled through the economy,” Abeywardena said, adding that weakening the economy would increase the burden on the masses and thereby pressure the government.

He added that the country’s economy cannot move forwards without foreign investments.