President Ranil Wickremesinghe officially opened "The Mall," a newly constructed duty-free shopping complex in the Colombo Port City area yesterday (September 5).
This marks the debut of the first urban duty-free shopping mall in the region, featuring a range of stores, restaurants, and various retail outlets. Notable international duty-free retailers, including One World, China Duty Free Group (CDFG), and Flemingo will be operating within the mall, positioning the Colombo Port City as a premier shopping destination.
Following the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and the official opening, the President embarked on an observation tour of the new complex.
In his address at the occasion, President Ranil Wickremesinghe reflected on the rapid development of the port city, noting that two years ago, such progress seemed unlikely. He attributed this turnaround to his government’s efforts in establishing economic stability, supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has enabled the Port City’s financial sector to advance.
The President also highlighted that approximately 100 companies are now interested in the Port City, with 74 expected to commence investment activities by the end of the year. He expressed optimism about the future growth and potential of the area.