Sri Lanka – Russia Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, 01st October , 2014 at the Russian Centre Colombo. H.E.Alexander Karchava, Ambassador of Russian Federation was the Chief Guest.
Welcoming members and guests to the event, President SLRBC, Mr. Hiran Karunaratne said, ”We concluded an eventful year with many key undertakings and events; presentation on Russian visa procedure and fellowship evening, presentation of activities and services offered to the business community by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow, felicitation of H.E. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, Russia National day Supplement, assistance during the visit of delegation of the Ministry of Plantation Industries and the Sri Lanka Tea Board to Moscow in July 2014 and also assistance to members of the Council and the Sri Lankan business community in general in doing business with Russia and to Russian Investors and Businessmen in Sri Lanka were among them.
The Council is making an effort to facilitate entrance for Sri Lankan suppliers to the Russian seafood and fruit & veg markets. The Council has had preliminary talks with some retail chains in Russia regarding the possibility of supplying seafood and fresh fruit and vegetables from Sri Lanka. The retailers have requested detailed information on the products, available volumes, production capacity, seasonality, lead times etc. The Council requests interested companies to make their commercial offers. We have invited the Seafood Exporters Association to a short meeting with H.E. Ambassador Karchava to be held at the conclusion of this AGM. The council will continue to contribute to strengthening economic ties between Sri Lanka and Russia.”
Delivering the key note speech, H.E. Alexander Karchava said that “Russia is in process of restructuring their supplier lists and there by Sri Lankan exporters will have an opportunity to export fruits, vegetables and seafood items to the Russian market. Ambassador urged the Sri Lankan exporters to get maximum gain from the prevailing opportunity”
Isuru Samarasinghe, Managing Director of Unitrades Ltd was elected as the President of the Council for the year 2014/2015.
W P Hapuarachchi, Chief Executive Officer, Harris Ceylon Pvt Ltd and Mr. Kolitha Weerakoon, Director, Imperial Teas (Pvt) were appointed as the Vice Presidents of the Council andMr. Hiran Karunaratne, Director, Regency Teas (Pvt) Ltd will serve the committee as the immediate Past President.
Representatives from Nature’s Beauty Creations Limited , Mos Lanka Investments (pvt) ltd, Maharaja Organisation Projects (Pvt) Ltd, Heyleys Energy Services Lanka (Pvt) Limited, HVA Lanka Exports Pvt Ltd, Avian Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, Freight Links International Pte Ltd and Delta Shipping (Pvt) Ltd was appointed for the 2014/2015 Committee of the Business Council.
Addressing the gathering, the newly appointed president Isuru Samarasinghe thanked the members for placing confidence on him to lead the Council for the Year 2014-2015 and welcomed comments and ideas to develop a plan of activities for the year.
The council felicitated Hiran Karunaratne , Immediate past president In honour of the leadership given in promoting and fostering close relations with the Russian Federation and the invaluable services rendered as The President of the Council from 2012 to 2014. H.E. Alexander Karchava presented the token to Karunaratne on behalf of the Council.
SLRBC Vice President Priyantha Haprauachchi in his Vote of Thanks expressed the gratitude of the Council to the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Russia, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and also the Russian cultural Center Centre in Colombo for their continued support towards the activities of the council.
