Last weekend, the Kingsbury Colombo hosted an exclusive business conclave aimed at promoting investments in graphene technology, drawing considerable attention from both local and international investors. This distinguished event was organized by Eng. Keerthi Wickramarathna, the Chairman of Ragedara Graphite Mines, renowned for its expertise in mining, research, and the production of vein graphite and graphene in Malsiripura, Sri Lanka.
The conclave provided a vital platform for discussions centered around the promising future of graphene and its potential to revolutionize various industries worldwide. Significant themes addressed included the strategic value of graphite and graphene, which are poised to propel technological innovations and enhance national economic development.
Nishantha Jayaweera, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development, shared optimistic insights regarding Sri Lanka’s economic prospects, emphasizing the importance of the private sector in generating value-added products for specialized export markets. This sentiment was reiterated during the unveiling of a new graphene product.
“Sri Lanka has attained a more stable economic status as we approach 2025, exceeding our financial expectations this year, which is a notable achievement,” he remarked. “Our primary focus moving forward is to expedite development and expand our economy, while consolidating Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and attracting local investments. This aligns with the expectations of our citizens,” he stressed.
Furthermore, Deputy Minister Jayaweera introduced three new legislative measures intended to bolster investment opportunities in Sri Lanka: an Investment Protection Act, an Investment Promotion Act, and a Strategic Development Act. He also disclosed a five-year Investment Diversification Plan set to achieve specific governmental objectives, which includes potential tax incentives for investment projects in the Port City.
Eng. Keerthi Wickramarathna emphasized the importance of graphene, stating, “Sri Lankan Graphene has been recognized globally as the highest quality Conductive Graphene, having undergone rigorous testing at the University of Singapore. With appropriate infrastructure and a focus on production, we can deliver top-tier graphene to the international market and generate substantial foreign revenue.”
He noted that high-grade graphene is currently valued at 30 times the price of gold and expressed optimism about ongoing orders from various countries, including China, Germany, the USA, Japan, India, Korea, England, and several European nations, with many investors eager to engage in the graphene sector in Sri Lanka.
“We can produce graphene more economically than our competitors, and our product quality is rated three times higher based on global market acceptance and feedback,” he concluded, underscoring the potential for Sri Lanka to leverage its abundant natural resources in the graphene industry.
