The UNP in a plan - "Working with the World" issued the following statement on Tuesday.

"We live in a world where businessmen work across borders to bring wealth to their peoples. In Sri Lanka we have failed to grasp that opportunity so far. We want to change that. We want to work in partnership with people from across the world.

Not so that they can strip our assets but so that we can work with them in partnership to enrich our people and contribute to international fellowship. Nor this will lead to large communities of ex-patriates as we will provide a high quality, high skilled indigenous workforce for these companies to employ.

As part of that process once elected we intend to invite the world business community to talk to us about our future plans for Sri Lanka. We shall hold a series of special trade conferences within two months of the election of the UNP Government.

Invitations will be sent to senior businessmen in blue chip companies across the world according to one of the following seven categories. We shall invite our business community to join in these conferences to build up alliances and work out proposals for the future.

• Transportation and transport infrastructure. This will include the building and renovation of public highways, modernisation/privatisation of the railways and buses, the building of two new international airports, the building of two new international deep sea ports at Hambantota and Trincomalee.

• The seas. Development of the seas immediately around Sri Lanka including the creation of new fishing fleets, the capturing of energy from the sea, and mineral exploration.

• Manufacturers of value added goods, information technology companies, light electrical and mechanical engineering companies, high tech innovative companies. They will be invited to join with Sri Lankan entrepreneurs in setting up new factories. In each of the new five development zones we shall create free trade areas where these companies can operate under special tax free incentives for the first three years.

• Tourism. Including the greater usage of the seas and coastline around Sri Lanka, our natural heritage and our historic remains as well as the traditional ‘sea and sand’ holiday. Companies willing to enter into partnerships with existing tourist facilities and local entrepreneurs will be given special incentives for a three year period.

• Telecommunications. Including all those industries involved in the high tech information technology. Knowledge economy and communications industries.

• Utilities and Construction. Companies will be invited to tender for provision of water, gas and electricity services. Private housing companies will be invited to build new homes initially around Colombo but subsequently around all our major cities and towns.

In addition to these exciting new joint ventures Leader of the United National Party, Ranil Wickremesinghe announced a special conference of all expatriate Sri Lankans.

"All of those entrepreneurs who left the country to seek their fortunes will be invited to come back for this conference and explore ways in which they can invest in the future of their mother country. We will especially welcome and encourage investment from this most important group of people. More and more Sri Lankan emigres have become successful businessmen around the world now we would like them to come and do the same here" he said.

"What Singapore achieved yesterday Sri Lanka will exceed tomorrow" said Mr. Wickremesinghe.