Speaking at the seminar on the national budget organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce yesterday, he said that the proposal to liberalise the shipping and logistics industry would also bring in additional foreign exchange to the country.

Tittawella said that the proposals are much more than merely relaxing the regulations on foreign players in the shipping and logistics industry. “We want to send a message that Sri Lanka is liberalising. We also want to say that we are not limiting the industry to a few local companies.”

Tittawella said that the government wants to broad base the industry and create more competition and bring in more players, rather than confining the shipping sector to a few individuals and companies.