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A pioneer goodwill delegation from the Chamber of Commerce Colombo visited Jaffna and had fruitful discussions with their counterparts. They also had discussions with small and medium scale industrialists. The delegation comprised Messrs M. Macky Hasim, President, Federation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, Tissa Jayaweera, Chairman, Advanced International Management Services Ltd, Samantha Abeywickrema, Secretary General FCCICL and Nalin Attygalle, President, Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing Mr. M. Ramathasan, Managing Director "Euroville" Jaffna and S. Pooranachandran, President, Jaffna Chamber of Commerce were also associated with the delegation.

Mr. Macky Hasim, President (FCCISL) and Vice President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka attending a press conference at Bastian Hotel, Jaffna said that earlier individual Chamber of Commerce and related associations functioning independently. They have now formed an apex body which is functions as an umbrella organisation to promote the business interest of the community and to find relief to small and medium scale industrialists. The Jaffna Chamber of Commerce was affiliated to the federation four months back. Their present visit would enable them to have closer interaction between the Chamber of Commerce in the North and the South. There are thirty five Chambers of Commerce affiliated to the federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka.

Nalin Attygalle, President, Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing said gold and soil are entwined in Jaffna and the energetic Jaffnaman is capable of turning the soil into gold. They have planned to have consultancy and training facilities for the small scale industrialists. Once the transport system is developed new avenues would be opened for active interaction with the Chamber of Commerce in Colombo. The opening of the Kandy road and the inauguration of sea transport between Kurikadduvan in Punguduthivu and Mannar would enable the Jaffna farmers and small scale industrialists to send their produce to the south and get a competitive price for their goods.

The Jaffna journalists complained about the exorbitant price of consumer goods in Jaffna especially after the General Election and attributed the high price of every item of consumption to the monopoly enjoyed by two or three big businessmen in bringing certain much sought after foodstuffs. They alleged that they are responsible for the unconscionable price of consumer goods sold in Jaffna. They also pointed out that the GST levied on goods brought to Jaffna is also another reason for high price of goods sold in Jaffna.

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