The MOU will see Surbana Jurong detail a long-term development plan for the Trincomalee metropolitan area and surrounding cities in the island's Eastern Province.

Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran, who is in Sri Lanka for a three-day working visit, and Sri Lanka's Minister for Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama on Thursday (June 02) witnessed the signing of the MOU in Colombo.

"We in the Eastern Province would certainly be willing to play the role of a launching pad for our two countries to achieve a higher level of economic achievement for the benefit of the people of our two countries," said Nazeer Ahamed, Chief Minister of the Eastern Province in Sri Lanka.

While in Trincomalee, Iswaran also visited a plant run by Singapore's Prima Group - one of the first Singapore companies to do business in Sri Lanka.

"I was personally struck by first, how long the business has been in operation here," he said. "And secondly, the close relationship that exists between the government, the people of this region and the Prima flour business. This is the kind of example we'd like to emulate," he added.

According to the Sri Lankan government, Trincomalee area has been identified as major zone that could be developed as agricultural and energy hubs under its development program.

The government last month received the cabinet approval for a proposal of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to obtain the assistance of a well experienced foreign company to conduct a planning review, which will also consider the ability of amalgamating the development of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa and Hingurakgoda cities with the Trincomalee development process.