The latest initiative was based on the encouraging response to the inaugural conference also organised by the same institutions in December last year.
Around 100 representatives from Japanese companies, fund managers, investment banks, trading organisations and others attended the half-day conference, which was followed by a reception.
Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation Dr. Sarath Amunugama and Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal also addressed the Japanese participants.
Held at the Akihabara Convention Hall, the Sri Lanka Investment Promotion Conference saw presentations by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Japan Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Securities and Exchange Commission Director Capital Market Development and Research Vajira Wijegunawardena, NWS Chairman and Japanese investor/shareholder Takashi Igarashi, Expolanka Holdings Group CEO Hanif Yusoof, Pan Asia Bank Chairman Nimal Perera, Citrus Leisure Director Dilith Jayaweera, Ceybank Asset Management Ltd., Fund Manager Indika Rajakaruna, Vallibel One Group Greener Water Ltd., and Royal Ceramics Director Tharana Thoradeniya, MAC Holdings Chairman Andre Fernando. Participants were provided with simultaneous translations in Japanese.
Additionally , A2Media Corporation Senior Managing Director Dai Tohma and Gentosha Total Asset Consulting Inc Director Masayoshi Yamashita also made presentations on Sri Lanka, recent macro economic trends, performance of the Colombo stock market, and tourism sector in Japanese.
Apart from those who made presentations, the Sri Lanka delegation for the Tokyo Conference also included Ceybank Asset Management Ltd. Chairman K.L. Hewage, SEC Assistant Director External Relations and Market Development Tushara Jayaratne, NWS Director and CEO Viraj Malawana, and Director Institutional and Foreign Trades Jaliya Wijeratne.
The NWS forum in Japan was also timed when IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings were on in Tokyo, whilst another significant feature is that it also formed part of the overall year round program of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties between Japan and Sri Lanka in 2012.
http://www.ft.lk/2012/10/19/sri-lanka-shines-in-the-land-of-the-rising-sun/