Sri Lanka - Italy Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of … · 2015. 7. 21. · 1 Introduction The Sri Lanka Italy Business Council was inaugurated in October 1998, under the

Sri Lanka - Italy Business Council

of

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

Review of Activities & Audited Accounts 2014 / 2015

1

Introduction

The Sri Lanka Italy Business Council was inaugurated in October

1998, under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The

Council focuses on the objectives of ‘promoting investment, trade

and joint venture between Sri Lanka and Italy’. The groundwork

for the formation of the Council was laid by a proposal made by

the then Ambassador of Italy in Sri Lanka His Excellency Maurizio

Teucci to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in 1997.

The Sri Lanka – Italy Business Council continues to collaborate with

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in achieving its objectives of

strengthening bilateral ties and promoting investment and joint

venture partnerships. The numerous activities the Council

organised during the period under review is testimony to the

immense support it receives from the Office Bearers and

Executive Committee. The Council is aided in these activities by

the Secretariat of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy

of Italy and the office of the European Union in Sri Lanka. The

Council also appreciates the assistance extended by the Export

Development Board.

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Objectives

To promote trade, tourism and services between Sri Lanka and Italy and in particular to promote exports from Sri Lanka to Italy.

To encourage the establishment of joint ventures in Sri Lanka between Italian and Sri Lankan investors.

To exchange information on trade and investment with the appropriate bodies in Italy.

To conduct joint meetings with Italian business organizations in Sri Lanka and in Italy.

To serve as a recognized representative of business sector interests in Sri Lanka in matters concerning business relationships with Italy.

To co-operate with the Government of Sri Lanka in the pursuit of the above objects.

To undertake all matters that are incidental or conducive to attaining the above objects.

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Executive Committee 2014 – 2015

President Mrs. Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny, Managing Director, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (Pvt) Ltd

Vice Presidents

Mr. Rajah Abeyasinghe, Managing Director/CEO, Allied Trading & Engineering (Pvt) Ltd

Ms. Sonali Liyanamanne, Chief Operating Officer, Worldlink Air Services (Pvt) Ltd

Immediate Past President

Daya Raathnayake, Managing Director, Aus Afrasia Designer Collection (Pvt) Ltd

Committee

Mr. Rajeev Aloysius, Jt.Managing Director, The Autodrome PLC

Mr. Mahendra Jayasekara, Managing Director, Lanka Tiles PLC

Mr. Shamil Mendis, Chairman/Managing Director, Spear International (Pvt) Ltd

Mr. Yohan Peries, Vice President - John Keells Holdings PLC, Walkers Tours Limited

Mr. Harsha de Alwis, Head of Remittances and FCBU Operations, DFCC Vardhana Bank PLC

Mr. Avindra Weerasinghe, Managing Director, Ally Weerasinghe Ltd

Mr. Anushka Polonowita, General Manager, Micro Holdings Ltd

Mr. Janaka Gunasekera, Director, A Baur & Co. Ltd

Honorary Members

Mr. Giandomenico Milano, Charge D’ Affairs A.I, Embassy of the Republic of Italy in Sri Lanka

Mr. Roshan Lyman, Economic & Trade Advisor, European Commission

Secretariat

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

50, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 2

Tel: 011-558-8874

Fax: 011-244-9352, 011-243-7477

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.srilankaitaly.com

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Committee 2014 - 2015

Seated From L-R: Sonali Liyanamana, Mackinnons American Express Travel, Vice President SLItBC, Anisha Dias Mack, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Daya Ratnayake, Aus Afrasia Designer Collection (Pvt) Ltd, Immediate Past President, Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (Pvt) Ltd, President SLItBC, His Excellency Fabrizio Arpea, Ambassador, Embassy of Italy, Rajah Abeyasinghe, Allied Trading & Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, Vice President SLItBC, Ranjit Jayawardena, Ranmal International (Pvt) Ltd, Past President SLItBC Standing From L-R: Anushka Polonowita, EuroSports Auto Lanka (Pte) Ltd, Avindra Weerasinghe, Ally Weerasinghe Ltd, Giandomenico Milano, Embassy of Italy in Sri Lanka, Yohan Peries,John Keells Holdings PLC, Shamil Mendis, Spear International (Pvt) Ltd, Harsha de Alwis, DFCC Vardhana Bank PLC, Janaka Gunasekera, A Baur & Co. Ltd, Mahendra Jayasekera, Lanka Walltiles PLC Not in the Picture: Rajeev Aloysius, The Autodrome PLC

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Membership

A Baur & Co. (Pvt) Ltd

Abans (Pvt) Ltd Agility Logistics (Pvt) Ltd Air Global (Pvt) Ltd Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd Ally Weerasinghe Ltd. ARMZ Exports & Imports Associated Battery Manufacturers (Ceylon) Ltd Aus Afrasia Designer Tiles (Pvt) Ltd

C.W. Mackie & Co. PLC

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC CL Synergy (Pvt) Ltd Coco Agro (Pvt) Ltd Consulting Engineers & Contractors (Pvt) Ltd

Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC

DFCC Vardhana Bank PLC DHL Global Forwarding Lanka (Pvt) Ltd Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC Divehi Holdings (Pvt) Ltd Dualplast Label Trims (Pvt) Ltd

Excel Global Holdings (Pvt) Ltd

Exel Holdings (Pvt) Ltd Expo World Buttons (Pvt) Ltd Expolanka Freight (Pvt) Ltd

Fast Transit Logistics (Pvt) Ltd

Fentons Ltd Ferrero Lanka (Pvt) Ltd Free Lanka Granite (Pvt) Ltd Freight Links International (Pte) Ltd

GEBS Trading Co. (Pte) Ltd

Hela Clothing (Pvt) Ltd

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (Pvt) Ltd HNB Assurance PLC Hovael Holdings (Pvt) Ltd Hydromec International (Pvt) Ltd

Impressions Labels Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

Jetwing Travels (Pvt) Ltd

JP Fresh Products JP Marine (Pvt) Ltd Jupiter Trading Co. Ltd

Lake House Printers & Publishers Ltd

Lanka Floortiles PLC Lanka Orix Finance Company Ltd Lankem Ceylon Plc

MAC Holdings (Pvt) Ltd

Mackinnons Travels (Pvt) Ltd Mackwoods Ltd Mascons (Pvt) Ltd Micro Holdings (Pvt) Ltd Midaya Ceramic Company Ltd MIT Cargo (Pvt) Ltd

National Development Bank PLC

Nippon Granites (Private) Limited

Omega Line Ltd

Penthouse Travels Ltd

Perfetti Van Melle Lanka (Pvt) Ltd Piramal Glass Ceylon PLC Presstona Tiles Lanka (Pvt) Ltd PricewaterhouseCoopers Pulsar Freight (Pvt) Ltd

Ranmal International (Pvt) Ltd

Richard Pieris Exports PLC Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC

Sampath Bank PLC

Senok Trade Combine Ltd Seylan Bank PLC Sherman Sons Trading (Pvt) Ltd Siedles Industrial Agencies Ltd Sierra Cables PLC Singha Cement (Pvt) Ltd Sirio Ltd. Spear International (Pvt) Ltd Srinko Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd

TCI Enterprise (Pvt) Ltd

Tastyy (Pvt) Ltd The Autodrome PLC True Value Products (Pvt) Ltd

Walkers Tours Ltd

Zam Gems (Pvt) Ltd

As at 31st March, 2015

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Activities 2014 - 2015 EU - Sri Lanka Trade Lane & its Development Luncheon Meeting with Mr. Roshan Lyman, Mr. R. D. S. Kumararatne & Mr. Giandomenico Milano

The Sri Lanka – Italy Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted a Luncheon Meeting on the 31st October 2014 at the Kingsbury Hotel. The Luncheon meeting focused on the topic of “U - Sri Lanka Trade Lane & It’s Development” the luncheon meeting consisted of 03 presentations by Mr Roshan Lyman, Head of Trade Section, Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Mr. R.D.S. Kumararatne, Director General of Commerce, Department of Commerce Sri Lanka, Mr. Giandomenico Milano, First Secretary/Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Italy.

Christmas Fellowship

Sri Lanka - Italy Business Council together with the Sri Lanka Italy Friendship Society hosted a Christmas Fellowship for its members for the 02nd consecutive year on 01st December 2014 at The Kingsbury Hotel.

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Family Business & Innovation - Luncheon meeting with Mr. M. S. Jeevan Gnanam, Chief Executive Officer, Orion Development (Pvt) Ltd

The Sri Lanka – Italy Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted a Breakfast Meeting on the 10th February 2015 at the Hilton Colombo Residence. The Breakfast meeting focused on the topic of “Family Business & Innovation” by Mr. M. S. Jeevan Gnanam, Chief Executive Officer, Orion Development (Pvt) Ltd.

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Italian Language Course for Beginners

The Sri Lanka – Italy Business Council organised the first ever language training programme and the course attracted twelve participants for the batch one. The course was conducted for eight consecutive Saturdays from 9.00a.m. - 11.00a.m., at the Board Room of the Automobile Association of Ceylon, by Mrs. Cristina Cortiana an Italy national working in Sri Lanka.

Breakfast Meeting with Hon. Minister Kabir Hashim, Minister of Highways, Higher Education and Investment Promotion

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The Sri Lanka- Italy Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce organized a successful breakfast meeting at the Hilton Colombo Residencies with Hon. Minister Kabir Hashim, Minister of Highways, Higher Education and Investment Promotion which was attended by around 50 participants.

Farewell to His Excellency Fabrizio Arpea, Ambassador of Italy in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka – Italy Business Council together with the Sri Lanka - Italy Friendship Society organized a Farewell Cocktail for His Excellency Fabrizio Arpea, Ambassador of Italy in Sri Lanka to acknowledge and appreciate the unstinted support and encouragement extended to SLItBC during his tenure here in Sri Lanka. The farewell was held on Monday, 08th June 2015 at Hilton Colombo Residences and the event attracted over 70 participants.

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Summary of External Trade with Italy 2010 - 2014

Rate of Exchange as at 31-March-2014 - US $ 1 = Rs. 130.5606

Source – Sri Lanka Customs

Rs.M

US$M.

Year Exports Imports Balance of

Trade

Exports Imports Balance of

Trade

2010 52,283 22,613 29,670

462.41 200.00 262.41

2011 67,441 33,248 34,193

609.97 300.71 309.26

2012 64,800 37,567 27,233

507.82 294.40 213.42

2013 65,905 32,583 33,323

510.46 252.36 258.10

2014 80,160 34,589 45,571

613.97 264.93 349.04

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Sri Lanka’s External Trade with Italy 2014

Main items Exported from Sri Lanka to Italy – 2014

Main items Imported in to Sri Lanka from Italy – 2014

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Secretariat

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce provided secretarial services to the Sri Lanka – Italy Business Council during the period under review.

Auditors M/s. KPMG Ford Rhodes Thornton & Co was elected auditors of the Council. The Audited statement of the accounts of the Council for the period 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015 is annexed.

By order of the committee Selvanathan Anojan For Secretary

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Financial Review 2014 - 2015

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Notes

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The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce No. 50, Navam Mawatha, Colombo 02. Sri Lanka

Tel: +94-11-242-2084, +94-11-558-8874

Fax: +94-11-244-9352, +94-11-243-7477

Web: www.chamber.lk