📈 SAGT CEO Outlines Keys to Successful PPPs & Investor Confidence

• South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) CEO Romesh David highlights four critical factors for Sri Lanka to attract credible investors into Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): 1. Clarity of Purpose: Full alignment and consistent communication across all Government agencies (e.g., finance, investment, port authorities). 2. Speed in Decision-Making: Warns the country cannot afford multi-year delays (2-5 years) for approvals if it is to remain globally competitive. 3. Fairness in Execution: Requires strict separation of roles—Government entities should not act as regulator, owner, and competitor simultaneously. • Role Separation: Stressing the importance of structural clarity, David noted that separating the roles of regulator, owner, and operator was key to SAGT becoming a globally recognised PPP model for Port/Terminal Operations. • Replication Failure: SAGT is cited by ADB/IFC as a textbook success, yet Sri Lanka has "failed to build on that success" by replicating the model in other essential sectors. • Urgency: Future PPP success depends on maintaining policy consistency, institutional coherence, and moving projects with urgency.