Sri Lanka’s doors remain open to transparent, long-term investment, with the government prepared to provide maximum support for businesses that uphold human rights, protect the environment and contribute to equitable economic growth, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stated.
Addressing the Asia-Pacific SDG Investment Forum in Colombo, organised by the United Nations Global Compact and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka under the theme “Forward Faster Now,” the Prime Minister said achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would require close cooperation between governments, businesses and civil society.
She said developing countries currently face an annual financing gap of between US$2.5 trillion and US$4 trillion, while the gap in the Asia-Pacific region alone stands at around US$1.5 trillion. The region also risks falling short of 88% of measurable SDG targets by 2030, she noted.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya said Sri Lanka’s economy had begun to stabilise following a difficult period, recording 5% growth in 2025, with GDP reaching US$108.8 billion and per-capita income exceeding US$5,000.
However, she stressed that the government’s objective extends beyond headline economic growth.
“Our goal is not simply growth reflected in economic figures,” she said, adding that Sri Lanka was seeking genuine economic transformation that creates employment and ensures that the benefits of growth are distributed fairly.
The Prime Minister said the government would support the development of the business sector but expected investors to adopt responsible practices. These include paying workers decent wages, providing vocational training, meeting tax obligations and protecting the environment.
She also identified greater participation by women and historically marginalised groups in the economy as a key priority.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya further highlighted the risks posed by climate change to agriculture and energy security across the region. She pointed to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap and Green Finance Taxonomy as measures aimed at addressing climate-related challenges and improving access to finance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Speaking at the forum, Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said the world faced interconnected climate, energy and financing crises.
Ojiambo said the problem was not a lack of global capital but the failure to direct sufficient investment towards areas where it was most needed. While the SDG financing gap stands at around US$4 trillion, she noted that the private sector holds approximately US$22 trillion in capital.
She called for greater investment in areas such as secure housing, fair wages, equality, quality education and clean energy, while urging a shift away from investments and subsidies that continue to support fossil fuels.
Ojiambo also stressed that attracting investment to developing countries requires trust, transparency and strong public-private cooperation. Businesses, banks, investors and policymakers must work together to address the financing gap across the Asia-Pacific region, she said.
The UN Global Compact has established a CFO Coalition with an ambition to mobilise a US$10 trillion financing market by 2030. Blended-finance mechanisms are also being developed to bring governments, development institutions and private-sector investors together to support projects delivering both financial and social returns.
The forum brought together Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, representatives of the UN Global Compact, private-sector executives from across the Asia-Pacific region, diplomats, sustainable-development specialists and leaders from various sectors.
The discussions focused on practical ways of mobilising investment and directing capital towards sustainable development opportunities in Sri Lanka and other developing economies, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.
