Calling on Sri Lankan businesses to leverage the resumption of direct flights to Moscow to diversify the export basket, the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Mr. Alexey Budanov, said Sri Lankan businesses should focus on emerging opportunities for bilateral cooperation with Russia.
Speaking on the occasion of the 19th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (SLRBC), Mr. Budanov emphasized that Russia would continue to support opportunities for trade between the two countries through the current challenging times.
The Keynote speaker, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Mr. Niraj De Mel echoed Mr. Budanov’s comments, highlighting the ‘ importance of enhancing the opportunities in tourism, coupled with tea such as tea tourism, and also implementing a way to import fertiliser and wheat from Russia.
Acknowledging the need for a stronger focus on bilateral trade, Mr. Kolitha Wickramasinghe, who was elected President of the SLRBC for 2022/23 said he would work ‘closely with the Export Development Board, Board of Investment and other relevant ministries to promote more business between Russia and Sri Lanka, in the areas of Tea, Travel, Tourism, etc.’
Mr. Buddhapriya Ramanayake, Managing Director, MOS Lanka Investments (Pvt) Ltd and Mr. Jude Fernando, Director, Rhino Roofing Products Ltd will serve as the Vice Presidents of the SLRBC for 2022/23 while, Mr. Hiran Karunaratne, Director, Regency Teas (Pvt) Ltd was re-appointed as the Treasure to the Council and Mr. Buddhika Liyanage, Director, Avian Technologies (Pvt) Ltd joined the committee in his capacity as the Immediate Past President.
The committee elected for the period 2022-2023 will be represented by; Ceylon Fresh Teas (Pvt) Ltd, Freight Links International (Pvt) Ltd, HVA Foods PLC, Kaushalya Tea Export Company, Millennium Teas (Pvt) Ltd, Nature’s Beauty Creations Ltd, Orofini Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd, Scanwell Logistics Colombo (Pvt) Ltd and Walkers Tours Ltd.
