Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council holds 14th AGM

The elected office bearers with the Chief Guest

The 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council (SLRBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was held recently, electing Priyantha Hapuarachchi as President for 2017/2018. Hapuarachchi is the Chief Financial Officer at South Asia Textile Industries Lanka Ltd. Mos Lanka Investments Ltd. Director Buddhapriya Ramanayake and Avian Technology Ltd. Director Buddhika Liyanage were elected as Vice Presidents. 

Ambassador of Russia to Sri Lanka Yuri Materiy attended the meeting as a Chief Guest while the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation Dr. Saman Weerasinghe was the Guest of Honour.

Nine other companies were selected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Council: Access International Projects Ltd., Freight Links International Ltd., Galle Face Hotel Management Company, HVA Lanka Exports Ltd., Imperial Teas Ltd., Maharaja Organisation Projects Ltd., Nature’s Beauty Creations Ltd., Regency Teas Ltd. and Rhino Roofing Products Ltd.

Isuru Samarasinghe, the President for the last three years for the council, shared about the activities of the council up to date. In his speech, Samarasinghe mentioned the 25-member business delegation that visited Moscow in March. The mission was organised in conjunction with the official visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to the Russian Federation on the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to coincide with 60 years of diplomatic ties. He thanked the embassy staff and the ambassadors for the excellent assistance provided during the mission.

Dr. Weerasinghe mentioned that after 25 years, this year the Moscow State University started courses in Sinhala language, adding that this proved the intentions of both countries to pursue the rapid and active expansion of bilateral cooperation. He also stated that both Governments had pointed out their commitment to significantly increase trade turnover soon and trade cooperation was at the stage of sustainable progress.

Ambassador Materiy mentioned the establishment of the Sri Lanka-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation, saying it could serve as an example of the great cooperation between the two countries. He pointed out that the political background of both countries was in favour of development of bilateral economic relations, which was ratified at the Second Session in Colombo. Under the Intergovernmental Commission, both parties recognised several sectors for potential cooperation and pointed out the importance of such activity.

In 2016, exports from Sri Lanka to Russia amounted to $ 181.98 million and the imports from Russia were recorded at $ 199.73 million. The total number of tourist arrivals in 2016 was 2,050,832 compared to 1,798,380 in 2015. The total arrivals from the Russian Federation decreased from 61,846 in 2015 to 58,176 in 2016.