New infrastructure being built across the country is the most visible evidence of the peace dividend Sri Lanka has been enjoying since the end of nearly three decades of conflict.
Activity in the port at Colombo is about to pick up even more as work begins on a $1.4-billion port city funded largely by China.
The country has been pursuing an ambitious goal to be a "five-hub economy" built around the aviation, maritime, energy, commerce and knowledge sectors. Lately there has been talk of a "5+1 hub" approach that adds tourism to the list.
To reach those goals, the government has tried to broaden the scope of opportunities available to the private sector and to seek investments and cooperation in a wide range of areas with foreign partners, including Thailand.
The work is being pursued under the framework of "Mahinda Chintana: Visions for the Future", a comprehensive 10-year development plan drawn up in 2006, even as the civil war was raging. Since then, a lot has been achieved to improve conditions at the rural, provincial and national levels, said Esala Weerakoon, additional secretary in the Ministry of Economic Development.
Activity at the port at Colombo is about to pick up even more as work begins on a $1.4-billion port city funded largely by China.
Increasing tourism was one of the ministry's main targets to foster more economic growth. Programmes to upgrade infrastructure and attract direct foreign investment in the tourism industry were introduced with an aim to attract 2.5 million tourists by 2016, he said.
Sri Lanka last year welcomed 1.27 million international tourists, a 26.7% increase from the previous year. One area it wants to promote is the lucrative meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (Mice) business. "We want to make Sri Lanka another suitable destination in Mice tourism," Mr Weerakoon said.
Human resource development is one essential element for success in the tourism sector, and he said Thai specialists in tourism business could be invited to train Sri Lankan lecturers in order to upgrade the tourism curriculum and improve teaching methods and skills.
The proposal was made during a visit to Sri Lanka by Sasiwat Wongsinsawat, deputy director-general of the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs at the Foreign Ministry.
Derick Karunaratne, CEO of Airport & Aviation Service Ltd, discusses plans for Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, which opened last year to serve southern and eastern coastal areas of Sri Lanka.
Mr Sasiwat agreed with the proposal, saying Thailand had a successful Mice industry and could also offer advice on adding value to tourism products. He expects to discus the ideas in more detail.
Buddhist-themed travel is another important area for Sri Lanka and Thailand alike given the two countries' shared religious bond, said Derick Karunaratne, CEO of Airport & Aviation Service Ltd at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA).
Officially opened last year, MRIA is only the second international airport in the country. It is expected to spur the tourism sector in the southern and eastern coastal areas.
"The country's infrastructure development is actually not for us, but for the next generation," said Mr Karunaratne. "If you come back here in the next three months, it will be not the same as things are changing very fast here."
About 80,000 Sri Lankan tourists visited Thailand last year but only about 5,000 Thais travelled to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's economy expanded by 7.3% last year, one of the top performers in Asia, and recorded 7.8% year-on-year growth in the second quarter of this year.
Among the most high-profile infrastructure projects in the country is a Chinese-backed $1.4-billion port city in Colombo, where President Xi Jinping officially launched construction during his visit to the country last month.
Ashok Pathirage, chairman of Softlogic Holdings Plc, emphasised there was high potential and opportunities in every sector for foreign investment.
"There are many opportunities that can help make Sri Lanka to the next Singapore," he said. "I think that at the moment companies like ours are now looking for partnerships. If you come later, maybe it will be too late. This is my message to Thai people."
Mr Pathirage said his company was now looking to focus on medical tourism, like Bumrungrad Hospital of Thailand.
Last June, Softlogic together with Centara Hotels & Resorts of Thailand, announced the opening of a new resort, Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa, located on the Bentota peninsula between the Indian Ocean and the Bentota River.
Dhananjaya Siriwardena, head of business development at the Urban Development Authority, said the government also aimed to create competitive cities to attract investment and jobs by improving trading areas, connectivity and improving related regulations.
"We want potential joint-venture agreements between Thailand and Sri Lanka," he said.