Rienzie calls private sector to action

The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) held a networking luncheon for their members recently. HNB Chairman Rienzie Wijetilleke was the chief guest.

"Now is the time to get things done and make the most of the situation," said Wijetilleke responding to the question 'with an end to hostilities and violence, is the business community ready to join hands and bring about prosperity to the country as a whole?'

"Towards the exercise of reconciliation, business community and the professionals should facilitate debate and dialogue between communities and introduce positive value adding measures on a continuous basis, with the IDPs as well as the rest of the community in the north and east," Wijetilleke said.

Stressing the importance of reconciliation Wijetilleke said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is in a unique position of having the authority and popularity to do what is right.

"The private sector and the business organizations like yours and mine should now support all positive initiatives taken by the State and consider it a new beginning towards creating an equitable society governed by transparency and accountability for the common welfare of all citizens," Wijetilleke said.

Wijetilleke emphasized the role of the private sector in making things happen quickly in the North and East so that the economic revival and job creation is swift. "Water supply, health, communications and jobs are all areas the private sector can make an immediate contribution," he said.

The CBB membership comprises Sri Lankan companies interested in doing business with the UK and British companies that have invested in Sri Lanka. CBB's mandate is to promote the two-way trade between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom, continuing the warm business relationship between the two countries.

CBB spokesman Philip Goodstein said, "Today's talk emphasized the importance of partnerships, private and public, foreign and domestic and how a joint approach can lead to revived economic prosperity and a lasting peace. The CBB is fully committed to enabling the existing and future success of UK-Sri Lanka business partnerships."