SLFBC holds AGM

The new committee Seated (from left) Jean-Louis POLI, Economic and Commercial Counsellor, French Trade Commission, Murad Rajudin, Vice President, Ambassador of France Christine Robichon, Dilipan Tyagarajah, President, Nirmali Samaratunga, Immediate Past President, Asanka Ratnayake, Vice President. Standing (from left) Nilupul De Silva of Board of Investment, Jeewani Siriwardena of Export Development Board, Anurag Kak of Lafarge Mahaweli Cement (Pvt) Ltd., . Senaka Amerasinghe,Shano Sabar of CMA-CGM Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., Satheeka Kavisekera - Secretariat, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The Sri Lanka - France Business Council (SLFBC) which functions under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its seventh Annual General Meeting at the Taj Hotel recently. The Council was inaugurated on February 4, 2004 with the primary objective of promoting trade, investment, tourism and services between Sri Lanka and France and to promote mutual understanding and to strengthen the relationships between Sri Lanka and France.

Ambassador of France Christine Robichon participated in the occasion as the chief guest. She thanked the outgoing President Nirmali Samaratunga, Chairperson and Joint Managing Director, Mackwoods Ltd., for her dedicated service to the Council for the past three years. Congratulating the newly elected President and the Committee, Robichon mentioned that the Council could play a leading role to develop economic relationship between the two countries.

Alstom President Dilipan Tyagarajah was elected as the President of SLFBC for the Year 2011-2012. Tyagarajah expressed his appreciation to the outgoing President and mentioned that he would endeavour to facilitate the increase of trade between Sri Lanka and France in a greater number of sectors. The two Vice Presidents elected are Hayleys PLC Director Asanka Ratnayake and Noyon Lanka (Pvt) Ltd Chief Executive Officer Murad Rajudin.

The committee for the Year 2011 - 2012 are Tilak de Soyza, Chairman and Managing Director, Associated Motorways (Pvt) Ltd., Senaka Amerasinghe, Managing Director, Carmart Ltd. Shano Sabar, Director, CMA-CGM Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., Navindra Abeysekera, Director, Delmege Forsyth & Co. Ltd., Anurag Kak, Managing Director, Lafarge Mahaweli Cement (Pvt) Ltd., and Immediate Past President - Nirmali Samaratunga, Chairperson and Joint Managing Director, Mackwoods Ltd. Jean-Louis POLI, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the French Trade Commission, Nilupul De Silva, Director Promotions, Board of Investment, Jeewani Siriwardena, Director - EU, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Mahesh Amalean, Chairman, MAS Holdings Ltd, Shashikala Perera, Commercial Attache of the French Trade Commission would also serve the Committee by Invitation.

(SJ)