Sri Lanka President pushes for investment in mineral sector

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called for urgent measures to attract local and foreign investment into Sri Lanka’s mineral sector to drive economic growth and increase export earnings. During a high-level meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, stakeholders discussed implementing the export-oriented National Mineral Policy 2026.

The discussions focused on the exploration, extraction, and value addition of resources such as graphite, ilmenite, zircon, and gemstones. Key objectives include improving infrastructure, providing investor incentives, and fostering research and development to support domestic manufacturing rather than merely exporting raw materials.

To facilitate this, the President emphasized the need for greater transparency, better coordination among state institutions, and the removal of bureaucratic hurdles. Specific attention was given to resolving delays in obtaining mining licenses and addressing shortcomings in the current regulatory and policy frameworks.