Strengthening ties between Sri Lanka and Italy

The thirteenth Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council was held at the Hilton Colombo Residence recently. The Council, which focuses on the objectives of ‘promoting investment, trade and joint venture between Sri Lanka and Italy’, is a bilateral business council which functions under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Speaking at the event, Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Pio Arpea of the Embassy of Italy stated that he looks forward for future support of the council for various activities and also stated that the High Commission looks forward to support the council in all its activities.

Auusafrasia Designer Collection (Pvt.) Ltd CEO/Managing Director Daya Rathnayake was elected to continue as the President of the Council for the year 2012/2013. He mentioned that the incoming Committee would focus on achieving its objectives such as encouraging joint ventures between Sri Lanka and Italy, conduct joint meetings with Italian business organisations in Sri Lanka and Italy and that the council will work closely with the Embassy of Italy in Sri Lanka and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Rome Italy.  

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (Pvt.) Ltd Managing Director Tania Polonnowita and Allied Trading and Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd Rajah Abeyasinghe JP, CEO were appointed as Vice Presidents respectively.

The Autodrome PLC Joint Managing Director Rajeev Aloysius, Lanka Tiles PLC Managing Director Mahendra Jayasekera, Excel Global Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd Jt. Managing Director Kiron Shenoy, Jetwing Travels Private Limited Director Sunil Pieris, Mackinnons American Express Travel Chief Operating Officer Sonali Liyanamana were elected to the Committee of the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council.

Membership of the Council is open to individuals, partnerships, companies, corporations or other organisations engaged in trade, tourism or services with Italy or engaged in joint ventures with Italian organisations or interested in entering or promoting trade, tourism, services or joint ventures with Italian organizations.