## 📈 Sri Lanka 2.0: Strategy for Investment Grade Status

A strategic roadmap proposes transforming Sri Lanka from a crisis-hit nation into a regional "turnaround story" by 2035 through fiscal discipline and tech-driven growth. • Fiscal Foundation & Stability • Goal: Reach Investment Grade status within 7 years to lower capital costs. • Constitutional limit on fiscal deficits to restore international market trust. • Establish a "Temasek-style" State Investment Fund to manage SOEs like SriLankan Airlines and CEB, requiring profitability within 3 years. • Introduce Debt-for-Nature Swaps to attract ESG capital and reduce external debt. • Digitalization & Transparency • Implement e-Procurement and a Digital Land Registry to curb corruption and unlock domestic credit. • Deploy LEO Satellites (e.g., Starlink) for 100Mbps connectivity in rural areas, bypassing expensive fiber costs. • New Growth Model: Value Over Volume • Logistics: Upgrade ports into South Asian "gateways" with value-added services. • Tourism: Shift from mass market to high-end wellness/Ayurveda to increase revenue per tourist. • Tea: Use Blockchain to secure provenance and premium pricing for Ceylon Tea. • Energy: Establish an undersea green energy link to India for export. • Human Capital & Social Safety • Prioritize STEM and English to compete in ICT/BPM and remote work sectors. • "Nutri-Lanka" program: Free school meals sourced from local farmers to combat a 26% poverty rate. • Incentivize the diaspora to reverse the "brain drain" and bring back global expertise.