‘Sri Lanka: The Small Miracle’ launched in Brussels

When the challenge of terrorism was ending and Sri Lankans are seeing light at the end of the tunnel, it is important that the country re-brands itself and is ready to take off and reach its full economic potential aaid Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union (EU) Ravinatha Aryasinha.

The Ambassador made these observations when he addressed the launch of a comprehensive Sri Lanka Economic Promotion Programme in Brussels, which commenced with a 3 day Sri Lanka Sea Food Festival on April 27 at the Raddison BLU Hotel, under the patronage of Brussels Governor Hugo Nys.

The Ambassador said in recent years Sri Lanka sustained economic growth at around six percent, and continued to draw steady flows of foreign investment and tourists. He said Sri Lanka was better prepared to shift gears in its race towards prosperity.

The Belgian Government was represented by Ambassador Christian Tanghe of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, while the Chairman of the Friends of Sri Lanka Group of the European Parliament MEP Geoffrey Van Orden represented the European Union institutions. Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul in Belgium Mrs. Monique De Decker-Deprez and Honorary Consul (Designate) in Luxembourg Jean Marie Verlaine, were also present.

Ambassador Aryasinha said, the comprehensive Sri Lanka economic promotion program that was being launched by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels had many facets. Besides the Sea Food Festival with the participation of two Sri Lanka Chefs from Mt. Lavinia Hotel, for the first time Sri Lanka was participating at the European Sea Food Exposition which centres on one of the fastest growing exports from Sri Lanka to the European market within a unified ‘Sri Lanka Pavilion’.

The Mission was also supporting the re-branding of Sri Lanka Tourism - “Sri Lanka: The Small Miracle” and the launch of “Buy One, Get One Free” - the Sri Lankan Airlines new promotion package targeting the European Traveler.

A Sri Lanka Investment Seminar is to be held in Brussels on June 3 in collaboration with the Board of Investment (BOI) and the Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry (BECI), which will be followed with interactions with the Business communities in the city of Antwerp and Luxembourg.

He said additionally, the Belgolux-Sri Lanka Business Council re-launched during the visit to Brussels by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in January, has embarked on an ambitious program for product specific promotions including Ceylon Tea and a visit of a Trade and Investment Mission from Belgium and Luxembourg to Sri Lanka during the course of the year.

The Ambassador thanked friends of Sri Lanka who have kept faith in Sri Lanka through these difficult years, and appealed to those who have yet to explore Sri Lanka whether as a trade, investment or travel destination, to do so.

He emphasised that by doing so, EU member states and companies will not only be engaging an economy with which Europe has had historic relations and from which it presently received more than a third of Sri Lanka’s exports, they will also be enabling Sri Lanka meets its Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and ensure economic empowerment and restoration of normalcy to the lives of people particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces who are yearning to move forward after two decades of subjugation by the LTTE.

Brussels Governor Hugo Nys inaugurating the event observed that such a promotional effort was being undertaken in Brussels by the Sri Lanka Government after more than 15 years.

Pointing out that Diamonds remained a key value added export to Belgium from Sri Lanka, and that “diamonds are for ever”, Governor Nys said he was confident that friendship between Sri Lanka and Belgium will also be forever.

Ambassador Christian Tanghe speaking on behalf of the Belgian Government said he had visited Sri Lanka several times and was enchanted by the people, the variety of attractions it had to offer, as well as its cuisine. He saw the event as the beginning of a process that will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

MEP Geoffrey Van Orden re-inforced the hope that Sri Lanka having got on top of the terrorist situation, could now get back on track and restore normality to the lives of its people.