RIYADH : Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia O.L. Ameer Ajwad met with Eng. Abdullah Abdulrahman Al-Obaikan, Chairman of the Riyadh Chamber, and discussed potential areas of cooperation between the private sectors of Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Briefing the Chairman on recent developments in private-sector engagement between the two countries, including the establishment of the Saudi–Sri Lanka Business Council between the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), the Ambassador extended an invitation to the Chairman and members of the Riyadh Chamber, which represents a large and influential private-sector network in the Kingdom, to visit Sri Lanka and participate in “Sri Lanka Expo 2027”, scheduled to be held from 14–17 January 2027 in Colombo.
The Ambassador also invited potential investors from the Riyadh Chamber to participate in the “Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit”, scheduled to take place on 12–13 October 2026 at the Shangri-La Colombo, to explore the wide range of investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka.
The Ambassador expressed his appreciation to the Riyadh Chamber for its unwavering support for business delegations from Sri Lanka, including facilitating business visits, hosting B2B meetings at the Chamber, and providing opportunities for meaningful engagement between the business communities of the two countries.
Chairman Eng. Al-Obaikan recalled the longstanding historical ties between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka and expressed his pleasure at witnessing the growing business relations between the two countries. He also reaffirmed the support of the Riyadh Chamber for Sri Lanka’s trade and investment initiatives, including participation in trade and investment forums, with a view to further strengthening economic, commercial and business relations between the two countries.
Both sides also discussed the proposed visit of a high-level Saudi–Sri Lanka Business Council delegation to Sri Lanka, coinciding with the “Sri Lanka Expo 2027.”
The meeting was attended by Mr. Abdul Hadi Alqarni, Chairman of the Saudi–Sri Lanka Business Council; Mr. Mansour Al-Ajmi, Director of International Relations, Riyadh Chamber as well as Ms. U.G. Damithri Samangika, Second Secretary/Head of Chancery; and Ms. Tashma Vithanawasam, First Secretary (Commerce) of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both sides to expanding bilateral trade, investment and business-to-business cooperation, and to further strengthening the longstanding friendship and economic partnership between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
