Gomi leaves, Fernando takes over Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce which promotes Sri Lanka’s international trade has got a new Chief with longstanding staffer P.D.  Fernando appointed as the Director General succeeding Gomi Senadira, who retired after a 32-year stint the Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced yesterday.

Counting for 32 years Fernando assumed duties  this week.

“The Department of Commerce (DoC) of Sri Lanka is the guardian of our international trade and it implements our international trade strategies. Gomi Senadira, its outgoing Director General, has served us well and I have no doubts that the new Director General will continue in the same tradition,” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce.

Bathiudeen was addressing the staff of the DoC during the ceremony to mark the start of work for 2012, held on 2 January at the department’s premises at Vauxhall Street, Colombo 2. The DoC functions directly under Bathiudeen’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

During the ceremony, Bathiudeen welcomed its new Director General of Commerce, P.D. Fernando, who assumed duties on the same day. Outgoing DG, Gomi T. Senadira (popularly known among the trade circles as ‘Gomi’), has served the SL-DoC over the past 32 years and retired in November 2011.

Breaking ranks from his journalistic family tradition, he chose the Government services as his career, joining the Department of Commerce in 1979. Gomi was also the only Sri Lankan to be appointed to the Geneva-based High Level WTO Committee on Trade Development. “It has been a rewarding experience,” Gomi revealed. “I thank all who supported me during my career, both in the DoC and outside,” he added.

Fernando, the new Director General of Commerce, has over 32 years of experience in the department. His overseas postings include Sri Lankan Missions in Karachi, Japan, Germany and Brussels as a Trade Commissioner and in Dubai and Sydney as the Consul General for Sri Lanka. Before joining the Department of Commerce in 1979, he has served in Sri Lanka Customs from 1976 to 1979. “I am looking forward to contribute to the trade vision of Minister Bathiudeen,” Fernando said.

“The DoC has a major responsibility to contribute towards Sri Lanka to achieve the high export targets and trade development this year as stipulated by the development vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. I encourage all officers to do their utmost to contribute to this goal,” Minister Bathiudeen said.