GL questions about corruption in the Shangri-La hotel chain

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor G.L. Peiris, reveals that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption questioned him regarding the investment process related to the arrival of the Shangri-La hotel chain in Sri Lanka.

As he points out, the series of events in question dates back to the early period after the civil war ended, specifically to April 23, 2010, when he assumed duties as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. At that time, Sri Lanka was facing numerous severe economic challenges, and attracting foreign investment was an extremely difficult task for the country. Against such a backdrop, representatives of the internationally renowned Shangri-La hotel chain had expressed their willingness to explore opportunities for establishing a hotel in Sri Lanka and inquired about the government's response to their proposed visit.

Believing that this decision needed to be made at the highest level, Professor Peiris immediately took steps to bring the matter to the attention of then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Mr. Rajapaksa, who warmly welcomed the proposal, instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to encourage the relevant investors to come to Sri Lanka, emphasizing the positive developments in the country's security situation after the end of the war. The former minister recalled that an extraordinary gazette notification issued after he assumed office had also assigned him the responsibility of promoting the tourism industry.

The government strongly encouraged this investment at the time, with the aim of attracting high-spending international tourists to the country and reinforcing investor confidence in Sri Lanka. Professor Peiris argues that the arrival of the Shangri-La hotel chain paved the way for a new awakening in the city of Colombo. He points out that it also helped build confidence for other international hotel projects in the country, such as ITC Ratnadeepa. According to his observation, since 2010, the city of Colombo has undergone significant development with new hotels, roads, and infrastructure.

However, Professor Peiris strongly emphasizes that no allegations of wrongdoing have been leveled against him concerning this investment process. He states that the Bribery Commission summoned him solely for the purpose of obtaining information about the background that influenced the said investment and how the government's intervention took place.