Sri Lanka: Promising Business Destination

-Asian Tribune-

Prof. Peiris Addresses Trade and Investment Event in Beijing

External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris was the principal speaker at the event “Sri Lanka: Promising Business Destination” organized in Beijing on Tuesday at the Intercontinental Hotel by the Embassy of Sri Lanka and the Export Development Board.

Professor Peiris explained to the leading Chinese investors and representatives of the corporate sector of China present at the event, the main advantages which Sri Lanka is able to offer today, as a destination for investment and trade. Key officials of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade participated in the event. One of the salient features of this programme was the emphasis on matching arrangements between Sri Lankan and Chinese companies for the purpose of increasing volumes of trade between the two countries.

Ayurveda Expo 2013 from July 12-14

Sunday Observer (26/05/2013)

Ayurveda Expo 2013, the international indigenous healthcare exhibition organised by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) will be held at the BMICH from July 12 -14.
The exhibition is held for the fourth consecutive time in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Export Development Board.
The objective of the exhibition is to showcase the potential of Sri Lanka's indigenous medical sector and its products and services for the tourism industry.
Ayurveda 2013 Steering Committee Chairman Thilak Godamanna said many Sri Lankan and Indian organisations engaged in indigenous medical product manufacturing and services have already reserved stalls.
He said delegations from Japan, India, Germany, South Africa and China (Shanghai) have confirmed participation in the exhibition.
A Symposium on South Asian Traditional Medicine will be held on July 13 at the same venue, where world-renowned professionals in the sector will make presentations on the latest research findings in the sector.

Release of handbook on the “India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement”

- Asian Tribune -

High Commissioner of India Ashok K. Kantha hands over a copy of "Handbook on the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement" to Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen at the Taj Samudra

A Handbook on the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement was released on 15 May 2013 by Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister for Industry and Commerce, Government of Sri Lanka and Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India. The handbook was brought out by the High Commission of India in collaboration with the Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka.

Mr. Anura Sirwardena, Secretary, Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Mr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies, Mr. Vish Govindaswamy, President, India-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ISLCCI), Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy, Director, Pathfinder Foundation, Mr. Sunil G. Wijesinha, President, National Chamber of Commerce, Mr. P. Kumaran, Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Manish, Economic & Commercial Counsellor, members of Indo-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, representatives of various business houses, India CEOs, officials from government departments and media representatives participated in the event

Sri Lanka sees 10.3% industry surge in 2012

Daily News - 2013-05-20

Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, unveils the CNCI Gold Achiever Award at Cinnamon Grand as Kumara Kandalama, SG/CEO of CNCI, and Preethi Jayawardena, Chairman, CNCI look on Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe

As Sri Lanka experienced a 10.3 % industry surge in 2012, Sri Lanka’s historic industry growth rate appeared to exceed the growth rate of its own GDP.

“Lankan historic industry sector growth has surpassed even the national GDP growth rate-in that, the industry ‘value addition’ to the GDP in 2012, is 62 times to that of 1960 when CNCI began at only US $ 269 million. Our industrial exports too, increased by 28 %, in 2011,” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce addressing the CNCI Achiever Awards 2013 launch event held at the Cinnamon Grand on May14 .

International Food & Drink Exhibition - 2013

17^th to 20^th March 2013 - London

by Udeni Wijekoon - EDB

Maliban Biscuit pvt Ltd exhibits their products

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) with the assistance of the Sri Lanka High Commission in the UK proposes to organized  a Sri Lanka pavilion for the first time at the International Food & Drink Exhibition held in the United Kingdom from 17th to 20th March 2013.

International Conference on Economic Development

Disna Mudalige - Daily News 2013-05-15

An International Conference on Economic Development, Joint Venture Partnerships and Eco Tourism has been organized by the Business and Professional Women Sri Lanka from August 10 to 12 at the BMICH.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Investment Promotion Minister Lashman Yapa Abeywardena and Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Dr Lakshman Jayaweera are to participate in this event as chief guests.

The main objective of the conference is to form joint venture partnerships in business, commerce, infrastructure development, tourism and information technology.

The conference facilitates business to business opportunities amongst the participants in coordination with the BOI, Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Tourist Board and other relevant authorities.

'Get Sri Lankaned' campaign in Mumbai

By Leanne Zara Rodrigues | Mumbai

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has announced that its second mega joint promotional campaign, 'Get Sri Lankaned', will be held in Mumbai from May 17-20, 2013. The campaign, which aims to showcase Sri Lanka as a tourist destination for Indians, was first held in Bengaluru earlier this year. The announcement was made by Bashwara Gunarathna, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism, along with Muthu Sivalingam, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Government of Sri Lanka and Sanath Jayasuriya, Member of Parliament, Sri Lanka and Brand Ambassador of Sri Lanka Tourism, at a press conference. The campaign is scheduled to cross over to Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi and Ahmedabad in the next few months. Get Sri Lankaned will begin with a press conference and will be followed by 'Sri Lanka Night', which will see participation from Indian film and sports celebrities, and will include a Sri Lankan Cultural Show and food festival.

Gulfood 2013 - Dubai, UAE

25th - 28th February 2013

Sri Lanka Pavilion at Gulfood-2013

 The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai in UAE organized  Sri Lanka pavilion at the Gulfood 2013 International Fair  held on Dubai, UAE from 25th - 28th February 2013.

The Gulfood International Fair is one of the most established events in the world for buyers to source food & beverage products. The EDB has identified Gulfood Trade Fair held annually   in   UAE to promote Sri Lankan food and beverage products. It caters not only to the UAE but also to the Middle Eastern and African markets as a whole.

Footwear & Leather Fair 2013

8th to 10th   February 2013 – BMICH, Colombo
Final Press Release

“Footwear & Leather Fair 2013”   organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in Association  with the Ministry of Industry & Commerce  , Industrial Development Board (IDB), Sri Lanka Footwear & Leather Products Manufacturers  Association  concluded successfully on the  10th February 2013 at the Sirimavo  Bandaranaike Memorial  Exhibition centre at BMICH.   This was the 5th of its kind, previous fairs been held in year 2007, 2009, 2010 & 2012.

SL Embassy in Dubai to host road show

(Daily News - 2013/05/08)

by Shirajiv Sirimane in UAE 



Ambassador of Sri Lanka in UAE, Dr. Mahinda Balasuriya with Head of Marketing, Airport Aviation Services of Sri Lanka and new Chief Executive Officer, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Derick Karunaratne at the ATM, Sri Lanka stand. Picture by Shirajiv Sirimane

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Dubai would organize a mega three day Road Show in UAE in September to promote tourism and draw more investments to Sri Lanka. The new Ambassador of Sri Lanka in UAE, Dr Mahinda Balasuriya, speaking to Daily News Business said that this Road Show would be conducted in three main states in UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

 He said that he had already contacted the main Chamber in UAE and they had pledged support for the event.