“Menace of terrorism is over; its time to intensify our economic engagement with Sri Lanka” said Ambassador Grace Asirwatham while addressing the members of the Netherlands – Sri Lanka Business Council in The Hague on 10th December.
The Embassy in The Hague celebrated Christmas with Carols on Saturday 19th December in keeping with the tradition to celebrate all major religious festivals at the Chancery premises.
The newly established Consulate of Sri Lanka in Chengdu together with Sri Lanka Tourism organized a country promotion workshop on 16th December 2009 at the Consulate premises. The workshop, the first ever of its kind organized by Sri Lanka in Sichuan province, was attended by over 60 representatives from local travel agencies, media and airlines.
The Embassy staff together with their families & friends, joined by safe-house inmates and the local Sri Lankan Christian & Catholic community celebrated Christmas at the Embassy on 26th December in a spirit of unity and harmony with the sounds of bells marking the festivities. The event, the first ever organized by the embassy Seva Vanitha Unit (Ladies Welfare Group) in Kuwait, held in a truly Christmas festive setting, amidst a traditional Christmas Tree, Christmas Choir, Santa Claus, Christmas gifts etc. among other attractions. The evening was put together in recognition of the beliefs and practices observed by multi religious/multi ethnic communities of Sri Lanka. There was a large gathering of invitees comprised of Sri Lankans belonging to all faiths, foreign guests, Kuwaitis, members of media, well-wishers etc.
The Government of Singapore provided training for twenty five senior level government officials from Sri Lanka on "Public Sector Leadership" from 26th October – 6th November 2009 in Singapore. The programme was initiated on the request of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore and co-ordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Civil Service College of Singapore. Additional Secretaries, Departmental Heads and other senior officials representing twenty five public institutions from Sri Lanka took part in this programme.
A 08-member high-level media delegation from Sri Lanka representing the main stream print and electronic media visited Kuwait on the invitation of the Kuwaiti Government for the 30th GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Summit from 14th to 15th December 2009. The Sri Lankan media delegation is one of the largest media contingents of Asian Journalists invited for this historic summit hosted by Kuwait. The media journalists who have been embedded with over 350 foreign Journalists reported exclusively with an in-depth analysis on the 02-day summit proceedings which involved leaders of Gulf States i.e. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait at a crucial time for the Gulf region. The agenda items featured at the Gulf Council Summit included the common currency, food security, the situation in Palestine, Iraq and other regional issues. The media team also reported exclusively on the important role played by Kuwait within the GCC and beyond.
The “Sri Lanka Day” celebrated on 4th December organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy Seva Vanitha Unit attracted a large gathering of Sri Lankans and well-wishers from all walks of life amidst benefits and opportunities to all and sundry. The day which coincided with the Seva Vanitha Unit’s First Anniversary made the occasion all the more relevant for the Sri Lankan community with the accomplishments they have made toward the “Mother Lanka” and its people with charitable deeds.
Garments of Sri Lanka Delegation to United Kingdom conducted a successful tour of business appointments with UK buyers for apparel in Manchester and London during 24th, 26th and 27th of November 2009.The Sri Lanka High Commission’s Trade Division together with the Export Development Board, the European Chamber of Commerce and the East Midlands Textile Association organized a series of buyer – seller appointments facilitating the 17 member Apparel Delegation to export a wider range of clothing ranging from women fashionwear, mens clothing, lingerie to childrens wear to the UK market.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Sri Lanka jointly organized a seminar titled,” Invest Sri Lanka –Time is now” on 26th November 2009 at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore with the twin objectives of disseminating first hand information on emerging business opportunities in Sri Lanka in the post conflict era and attracting institutional investors in Singapore to invest in Colombo Stock Exchange, which is one of the five best permeag markets at present.
On a joint invitation extended by the University of Kuwait and the Kuwait Historical Society, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Sarath Dissanayake delivered a speech at the University auditorium on 23rd November on the theme “Post-war Sri Lanka – Opportunities & Way Forward” with special emphasis on the Role of the International Community, to a well attended gathering of academic staff, students, members of the cooperate sector, media, Sri Lankan community and well-wishers. The event was held under the distinguished patronage of Prof. Sheika Maymounah Khalifa Al-Sabah, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and President of the Kuwait Historical Society and was presided over by Dr. Abdullah M. Alhajeri, Vice Dean for Student Affairs, University of Kuwait.