Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Tuesday, 16 September 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The 15th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council was held on 21 August at the Hilton Colombo Residences.
The Council, which focuses on the objectives of “promoting investment, trade and joint ventures between Sri Lanka and Italy”, comes under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
The Chief Guest at the event Italian Ambassador for Sri Lanka Fabrizio Arpea said that the business relationship between Sri Lanka and Italy has benefited greatly through the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council.
He said that the work done by the Council has helped improve bilateral trade, investment, tourism and industrial cooperation between the two nations.
Sri Lanka’s exports to Italy mainly consist of machinery and equipment. Arpea also mentioned that he looks forward to the future support of the Council for various activities.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Ltd. Managing Director Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny was elected the President of the Council for the year 2014/2015. She mentioned that the incoming committee would focus its attention on encouraging joint ventures between Sri Lanka and Italy, conducting matchmaking events between firms in both countries and also work with the relevant diplomatic missions to help boost the commercial relationship between the two countries.
Allied Trading & Engineering Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Rajah Abeyasinghe JP and Mackinnons American Express Travel Chief Operating Officer Sonali Liyanamana were appointed as Vice Presidents of the council, respectively.
AusAfrasia Designer Tiles Ltd. CEO/Managing Director Daya Rathnayake will serve as the Immediate Past President.
The following committee members were elected on to the Committee of the Sri Lanka – Italy Business Council: The Autodrome PLC Joint Managing Director Rajeev Aloysius, Lanka Tiles PLC Managing Director Mahendra Jayasekera, Spear International Ltd. Chairman/Managing Director Shamil Mendis, John Keells Holdings PLC Vice President Yohan Peries, DFCC Vardhana Bank PLC Head of Remittances and FCBU Operations Harsha de Alwis, Ally Weerasinghe Ltd Managing Director Avindra Weerasinghe, , EuroSports Auto Lanka Ltd. General Manager Anushka Polonowita and A Baur& Co. Ltd. Director Janaka Gunasekera.
Membership of the Council is open to individual persons, 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 into or promoting trade, tourism, services or joint ventures with Italian organisations.
