The Role of Sri Lanka in Enhancing Connectivity between South Asia and Southeast Asia
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Date
2014-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tokyo: Asian Development Bank Institute
Abstract
Improving physical connectivity between South and Southeast Asia has long been recognized as a key element in promoting greater trade and investment linkages within the region. As an island economy, Sri Lanka's regional connectivity has been mainly through its main sea port in Colombo, a transshipment hub port for South Asia. Investments to expand capacity at Colombo port are underway as part of Sri Lanka's renewed efforts to develop its infrastructure following the long internal separatist conflict that ended in 2009. Despite significant improvements in physical infrastructure connectivity, Sri Lanka has made only limited headway in strengthening its trade and investment links with the rest of the region. Moreover, the country has seen a sharp decline in its overall exports-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, which is worrying in view of the growing external debt financing of many large infrastructure projects through state-led investment initiatives. Thus, Sri Lanka needs to focus on two priority areas: engaging private investment in infrastructure by strengthening the country's institutional and regulatory environment; and implementing a more strategic trade policy geared to enhance regional integration efforts.
Description
This paper was produced as part of the ADB–ADBI flagship project on “Connecting
South Asia and Southeast Asia.” - http://www.adbi.org/workingpaper/
2014/06/30/6349.sri.lanka.role.connectivity/
Keywords
South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan economy, Infrastructure, Energy trade, Trade, Regional trade flows, Transport administration
Citation
Weerakoon, Dushni and Perera, Nipuni, The Role of Sri Lanka in Enhancing Connectivity between South Asia and Southeast Asia (July 4, 2014). ADBI Working Paper 487