Laksala the ‘Official Gift and Souvenir Partner’ for Commonwealth Business Forum 2013
Monday, 28 October 2013 01:20
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Commonwealth Business Council in London has granted Laksala, the oldest and most well known gift and souvenir boutique for authentic Sri Lankan artefacts, the status of ‘Official Gift and Souvenir Partner’ for the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) 2013.
The CBF which is an integral part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held from 12 to 14 November, at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. The Chief Guest for CBF 2013 President Mahinda Rajapaksa will make the keynote address at the opening ceremony.
CBF is co-organised by the Commonwealth Business Council and the Government of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Private Sector, under the theme of ‘Partnership for Wealth Creation and Social Development : The Commonwealth, Indian Ocean and SAARC’.
Great achievement
Commenting on the partnership, Anil Koswatte, Chairman and CEO of Laksala, noted: “This is a great achievement for us. We are delighted to be a part of such a prestigious forum which aims at moving towards a new era of development for the Commonwealth, Indian Ocean and SAARC countries. With the objective of popularising and promoting the Sri Lankan handicrafts industry both locally and globally, all heads of Government, ministerial and Government officials and international business leaders will receive a corporate gift reflecting ‘All of Sri Lanka,’ courtesy the official gift and souvenir partner, Laksala.”
President of Goodluck Johnson Nigeria; Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, UAE Minister of State Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Bajaj Auto India Chairman Rahul Bajaj and CDC Group UK CEO Diana Noble, Standard Chartered UK Vice Chairman Sir Thomas Harris are some of the dignitaries participating in the CBF this year.
New outlet
Whilst preparing for CHOGM, in addition to expanding the gem and jewellery range, Laksala is currently in the process of constructing a new outlet at the entrance to the Peradeniya botanical garden, under the Divi Neguma social developmental scheme with the guidance of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development.
Laksala which was once an under-performing entity, due to financial hardships and management issues, was considered an inactive government organisation by 2008. Today, Laksala operates through 15 branches located island wide and offers the widest variety of Sri Lankan handicrafts and brands/items synonymous to Sri Lanka, to locals and mainly to tourists. Laksala has received positive endorsements in the Financial Ministry’s Annual Report for 2012 on the profitable turnaround.
