An investment 'roundtable' discussion has been proposed involving potential Swiss investors, officials of Swiss firms already in the island, Board of Investment and Commerce Ministry, Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka, said.

“We had a lack of high ranking visits between the two countries. But we are now looking to intensify our relations with Sri Lanka," he was quoted as saying in talks with Minister of Industry & Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter is due in Colombo by mid-March and an economic mission in mid-May, led by Ambassador Livia Leu, Head of the Bilateral Economic Relations Division of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Swiss Federal government unit handling economic and labour market policies.

"All these are to show the Swiss political willingness and interest to intensify the bilateral relationship across the board, as we see special potential in economic relations and much more potential on Sri Lanka’s investment side," Walker-Nederkoorn said.

"There is that ‘will’ among Swiss businesses to invest more in Sri Lanka."

Last month, a number of Swiss multinational companies had met him and said they are keen to invest in Sri Lanka or to further grow their already existing investments, a statement quoted Walker-Nederkoorn as saying.

Top Swiss companies in Sri Lanka include Holcim, Baurs and Nestle.