SLRBC holds 13th AGM; launches website

From left: Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Secretary Erandi Dinusha, Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council President Isuru Samarasinghe, Embassy of Russian Federation Ambassador Alexander Karchava, Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council Immediate Past President Hiran Karunarathene and Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council Vice President Priyantha Hapuarchchi
Pic by Nisal Baduge

By Zahara Zuhair
The 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council (SLRBC), organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) was held recently, re-electing Isuru Samarasinghe as President for 2016/17. The event also saw the launch of the SLRBC website.
Priyantha Hapuarachchi and Buddhapriya Ramanayake were elected as SLRBC Vice Presidents for 2016/17.

In his message, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russian Federation Dr. Saman Weerasinghe said that they have taken initiatives to establish a hospital in Sri Lanka, which is German funded, in collaboration with a joint stock company registered in the Russian Federation. 
Weerasinghe revealed the project report is to be submitted to the government during this year.
He said that to nourish business-related activities, they were able to materialise the long felt need for multiple-entry visas, enabling recognised Sri Lankan businessmen to travel to the Russian Federation.

Though Ceylon tea has been a major export product to the Russian Federation, he said that at the moment it is experiencing a downturn with the prevailing economic condition and the relatively high price of Ceylon tea. 

Nevertheless, he congratulated those who are still maintaining their share in the Russian market even during difficult times. President Isuru Samarasinghe said that this year too there was no significant improvement in trade between the two countries, due to the continuous economic downturn and the volatile conditions prevailing in Russia.

As per the request of the SLRBC members and based on the guidelines of the Russian Ambassador in Colombo, he said that they are planning to form a Belarus-Sri Lanka Business Council in the near future.

Furthermore, he acknowledged the six-page supplement published by Daily Mirror to mark the Russian Day, which was highly appreciated by the ambassador and other officials of the Russian Embassy.

The newly launched SLRBC website expects to assist the members to develop their trading activities with Russia and he requested the members to make use of this website and to advertise their products.

Further, it was noted that discussions will take place to make amendments and to implement a new constitution for the SLRBC.
In the year 2015, exports from Sri Lanka to Russia amounted to US $ 193.56 million and the imports from Russia to Sri Lanka were recorded at US $ 242.37 million.
With regard to tourist arrivals from the Russian Federation, the number has decreased from 69,718 in 2014 to 61,846 in 2015.