Sri Lanka, May 21 -- Kazakhstan's Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev yesterday said the SCO is prepared to support development projects launched by the Sri Lankan Government.

During a visit to the Colombo Port Yermekbayev said the organization is ready to invest in Sri Lanka's development initiatives.

At a meeting with Ports and Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilake, the SCO Secretary-General noted that Sri Lanka currently remains a dialogue partner of the organization and that the bloc is considering granting the country full membership in the future.

Yermekbayev also said the SCO plans to encourage more tourists from member countries to visit Sri Lanka in a bid to strengthen the tourism secto...