Sri Lanka Italy Business Council of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce welcomes Ambassador Mannella

The newly appointed Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Rita Giuliana Mannella the Ambassador for Republic of Italy in Sri Lanka was ushered by the Sri Lanka Business community at the gala Members Annual Fellowship 2018 held recently at the Hilton Colombo Residencies.

Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka  Rita Giuliana Mannella

The Members Annual Fellowship facilitated by the Sri Lanka Italy Business Council (SLITBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce enabled the Sri Lankan corporate executives to get to know the new ambassador and also share and exchange views for further development of trade between Sri Lanka and Italy.

SLITBC President Sonali Liyanamana introduced Mannella with a brief profile stating; “After graduating in Law at the University of Pisa, Ambassador Rita Giuliana Mannella joined the Diplomatic service, working on multilateral economic issues, human rights, development cooperation and the fight against hunger.

“After serving in New Delhi as First Secretary (Commercial), she subsequently served in New York as Consul and then in Rome, at the Permanent Representation to the UN Rome based Agencies.

“Prior to coming to Sri Lanka, Her Excellency worked with the Director General for Development Cooperation as Director for Communication and Visibility.”

Mannella addressing a distinguished gathering of over 60 business corporates said that she looks forward to working with the Sri Lankan business community in strengthening existing business and economic relationship with Sri Lanka as well as identifying new areas to work in. She further reiterated the potential to improve economic and business relationships between the two countries and pledged her full support to the Sri Lanka Italy Business Council to harness it. 

She highlighted the fact that there are many Italian businesses in Sri Lanka (not only in Colombo), and a large population of Sri Lankans in many cities in Italy; and that co-operation with these diaspora, in many sectors, can be mutually beneficial.

The Sri Lanka Italy Business Council operates under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, promotes two-way trade between Sri Lanka and Italy in maintaining and fostering a harmonious business relationship between the two countries.

Cherryl Rodrigo, Assistant Secretary-General represented the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Public interested in joining the Business Council could contact the SLITBC Secretariat via 5588859, [email protected] or by visiting our website www.srilankaitaly.com.