SL Trade Expo opens in Oman

Priyanka Kurugala in Muscat

Many Sri Lankan cultural items, tangible and intangible heritages, as well as dancing, local musical events and local foods were presented at the Sri Lankan Trade Exhibition and Food Festival-2013, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Oman, Asoka Girihagama said.

The Sri Lankan Trade Exhibition and Food Festival commenced at the Alfalaj Hotel in Muscat yesterday(12). It is to be held from February 12 - 14 on a grand scale.

Sri Lanka’s culinary were showcased on this occasion.

According to Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Oman, Asoka Girihagama, the achievements of the Sri Lankan Trade Exhibition and Food Festival was unique and vivacious.

One of the main targets of the Exhibition has been to provide more opportunities for Sri Lanka’s business community to uplift their quality products to the international market.

The other reason being the introduction of Sri Lanka’s cuisine, its cultural heritage and trade, to the world at large, he said.

According to the Mahinda Chinthana future vision, enhancing the cultural heritage of the country was one of the major points.

The exhibition was one of the best methods to present Sri Lanka’s identity to the world, he added. The Exhibition had been organized to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations between Oman and Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Trade Exhibition and Food Festival would also help boost trade between the two countries, courtesy, the recently established Oman - Sri Lanka Business Council, he said.

Many Sri Lankan entrepreneurs have the opportunity of showcasing their items to the world community. This would help to promote their products and services in Oman.

The Sri Lanka Business Council (OSBC), has joined hands with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman, to launch this much important exhibition.

Oman has been one of the much important business venues among Gulf countries in promoting Sri Lankan products.

More than 40 Sri Lankan business firms and companies have joined hands to make this trade exhibition and food festival a success, he said.

“Around 30 different items belonging to many sectors in Sri Lanka is being exhibited.

Items such as apparels, electrical and electronic items, footwear, leather products, tea, printing and stationery, wooden products, rubber and rubber based items, boat building, floriculture, diamonds, gems and jewellery, ornamental fish, ceramics, handloom, processed foods, toys, handicraft, tourism, herbal and spa, are among the other items at the exhibition,” he said.

“The Sri Lankan embassy would initiate necessary arrangements in this regard,” he said.