Category Press Release

A delegation of ‘South India Powerloom Federation’, the confederation of weaving associations in Southern States, along with Dr. M. S. Mathivanan, the Chairman of the Federation, visited Sri Lanka on 22^nd November, 2021, under the invitation of Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka for Southern India. As South India has the historical and largest contribution to the Powerloom industry in India, the objective of this visit was to strengthen business links between South India and Sri Lanka as well as to seek the opportunities to ‘Invest in Sri Lanka’ in Textile Industry. In this visit, the Delegation headed by Dr. Venkateshwaran met Hon. Basil Rajapaksha, Minister of Finance, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, State Minister of batik, handloom, and local apparel products, Hon. Nalaka Godahewa, State Minister of urban development, Mr. Ajith Nivad Cabral, Governor of the Central Bank, Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage, Foreign Secretary and Mr. Sanjaya Mohottala, Chairman, Board of Investment to discuss new avenues on developing Powerloom industry in Sri Lanka. Further, the delegation visited National Chamber of Commerce and Colombo Business Association together with Urban Development Authority, to discuss about trade and investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka, specifically in recently established Eravur Fabric Park, which led for several possible investment opportunities in Textile and Apparel Industry as the outcome.

Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka
Chennai
30.11.2021

The Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka for Southern India, Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, paid a courtesy call on the Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Mr. R. N. Ravi, at the Raj Bhavan on 16.11.2021. Matters related to enhancement of bilateral cooperation and developments were discussed. Further, the discussion was focused on building up goodwill and increased connectivity between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. In addition people centric programmes were an important highlight in the meeting agenda.

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission celebrated Deepavali on 22^nd October 2021 at the Chancery premises. Deepavali is widely celebrated all over Sri Lanka as well as India and is a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Deepavali is also known as the festival of lights. The entire Chancery premises were illuminated with colorful lights, glowing oil lamps, vibrant colours of rangoli and floral décor. Various cultural events depicting Sri Lankan as well as Indian arts forms were performed at the event by the Mission staff and their family members.

Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka
Chennai

Exploring opportunities for strengthening its film industry in the international arena, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai together with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, first-ever time organized a Sri Lankan film professionals` delegation at the 4^th Edition of the Innovative International Film Festival (IIFF) which was held at JW Marriot Hotel & Innovative Multiplex theater in Bangalore from 14^th to 17^th October 2021.

IIFF is one of the biggest and prestigious international film festivals in South India which is organized by the Innovative Film Academy in Bangalore for years which means to promote the film art and cultures of participating countries, creating a networking platform for the international film industry with co-production opportunities in different countries.

Commencing the Sri Lankan session at the event on 16^th, Dr. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner, given the impetus to the distinguished gathering, highlighted why Sri Lanka should be selected as their favorite film destination country. Followed by his remarks, the five-member Sri Lankan delegation, including Chaminda Munasinghe, Assistant Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Shyaman Premasundara, Film Director, Frames TV & Films, Yasas Rathnayake, Managing Director, Circle 360, Priyanga Kumarasiri, Producer, Crew for Shoots and Chathra Dias Weeraman, Film Director, made a comprehensive presentation elaborating the history of shooting international films in Sri Lanka, Island`s scenery destinations, availability of sophisticated infrastructure facilities and concessions/sops given for the international filmmakers.

Moving to the networking session, Mr. Sarvana Prasad, Founder, and Ms. Upasana Mittal, Creative Director of Innovative Film Academy introduced the Sri Lankan delegation to the conversant cine & entertainment industry professionals who had attended the session and worthwhile discussions were taken place alluring more opportunities to Sri Lanka. Joining the Sri Lankan session Mr. Allu Aravind an eminent & illustrious film producer in Telugu cinema had a cordial interaction and upon the Deputy High Commissioner`s invitation to visit Sri Lanka, he expressed his desire to explore Sri Lanka for his upcoming creations.

The four-day festival concluded with a fascinated closing ceremony with the participation of diplomats, government officials, industry professionals, and participant countries` representations. During the Ceremony, the newest Sinhala Movie called “ AYU” which was directed by Chathra Dias Weeraman was awarded as the Best Asian film. IIFF`s 4th Edition was turned out by leading filmmakers, celebrities, directors, producers, film associations & diplomats from 30 heterogeneous countries, and 75 international movies from participant countries were screened in 45 languages. The Sri Lankan delegation was coordinated and arranged by Dilanga Hettiarachchi, Third Secretary (Commercial) of the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, and Chaminda Munasinghe, Assistant Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, Chennai
21.10.2021

Full Media Release – https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-upgrading-digitalization/

Upon the resumption of Sri Lanka tourism for Indian travellers, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai hosted two outbound tour operator delegations from Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) at Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission on 23^rd and 24^th September 2021 respectively. The objectives of arranging these delegations were to brand Sri Lanka again as the favourite travel destination of Indian tourists after a long break due to the pandemic restrictions and to solicit their views on uplifting Sri Lankan tourism.  Addressing delegations, the Deputy High Commissioner, Dr. Venkateshwaran, made the delegates aware of the way forward for Sri Lankan tourism under the new normal situation and emphasized Sri Lanka’s readiness to promote “Ramayanaya Yathra”, “Murugan Trail” and “Panchalingam Trail” to allure more Indian travellers to the island.

A comprehensive presentation was made by Mr. Nilina Pathirana, Manager, Sales, Sri Lankan Air Lines, Chennai office, highlighting the air connectivity from Colombo to south Indian destinations including Chennai, Bangalore, Trichy, Madurai, Cochin, Trivandrum, and Hyderabad. Furthermore, he emphasized the national carrier’s buy one, get one free offer, which is available to passengers until December 31st, 2021. TAAI delegation head, Mr. Karunakaran, Hon Secretary of TAAI Southern Region, appreciated the initiatives taken by the Deputy High Commission to make travellers aware of the opening up of Sri Lankan tourism to India. Furthermore, he suggested a few factors to be taken into consideration, which include changes to Sri Lankan Airlines’ flight schedules and enhancing sops provided to travellers.  

President of TAFI Southern region, Mr. Arul Lazaran emphasized the importance of Sri Lanka as a travel destination for Indian travel and tour operators, specially elaborated the importance of waving off taxes/levies on MICE tourism and destination wedding travellers. During the Q&A session, numerous questions were raised by the participants regarding the steps to be followed by the travellers upon arrival in Sri Lanka, the ongoing visa procedure, and carrying out PCR tests etc. These questions were successfully addressed by the DHC and the team. Moreover, Sri Lankan Airlines and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau were suggested with a few proposals to be executed which would be more pragmatic to bolster the Sri Lankan tourism industry under the new normal situation. Taking the facts raised by the delegates into his consideration, DHC agreed to convey their suggestions to Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and other line agencies in order to assure and furnish a safe and comfortable travel experience to Indian travellers.

Rounding off each interaction, Mr. Dilanga Hettiarachchi, Third Secretary (commercial), Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, admired the impetus given by both TAAI and TAFI throughout the years and sought their keen support to promote and project Sri Lanka as Indian travellers’ favourite travel destination.

Both TAAI and TAFI are preeminent travel and tour operator associations in India, which have a substantial amount of island wide membership and play a vital role in India`s tourism industry.

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission- Chennai

27^th September 2021

News Paper Article – https://www.ft.lk/…/SL-Deputy-High-Commission…/27-723742

The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay called on the new Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris after his assumption of duties. Foreign Minister Peiris expressed appreciation and continuous support being provided by India for combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister Peiris thanked the Government of India for supplying emergency consignments of liquid oxygen from east Indian ports, even by using Indian naval ships. The discussion also centred on enhancing religious tourism. Foreign Minister Peiris also appreciated the offer of US$ 15 million by the Government of India to preserve and promote Buddhist cultural sites in Sri Lanka and expressed interest in early implementation of the offer. Both sides also discussed on the possibility of the early convening of the Indo-Lanka Joint Commission, which was last convened in 2016. It was agreed that the six Working Groups under the Joint Commission, covering specific subject areas under education, science & technology, tourism, trade & investment, fisheries and the power sector, should meet at the earliest feasible opportunity. Matters relating to fisheries were also discussed and both sides agreed to search for a meaningful, pragmatic solution to the issues. Indian assistance to develop fisheries harbours in Sri Lanka was greatly appreciated.  The discussion also focused on the setting up of pharmaceutical manufacturing plants by India in Sri Lanka. Both parties highlighted the pivotal importance of relations between Sri Lanka and India which have stood the test of time as close neighbours and expressed satisfaction at the current level of cooperation and resolved to raise bilateral relations in multiple sectors to even higher levels.

 Foreign Ministry

Colombo

 23 August, 2021

Full Media Release: https://mfa.gov.lk/india-sl-fm/

The newly appointed Foreign Minister Prof. G.L Peiris assumed duties at the Ministry today (18 August, 2021) at a simple ceremony graced by outgoing Foreign Minister and the new Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardena; State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya; State Minister of Women and Child Development, Preschools & Primary Education, School Infrastructure & Education Services Piyal Nishantha De Silva;  Member of Parliament and General Secretary of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Sagara Kariyawasam; Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and other officials. The Buddhist clergy led by the chief incumbent of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Dhammaratana Nayaka Thero invoked blessings on the occasion.

Thereafter, both incoming Minister Prof. G.L Peiris and outgoing Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena met the senior staff of the Ministry. Addressing the occasion, Minister Prof. G.L Peiris stated that he was pleased to be back at the Ministry after six years. He commended the outgoing Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena for the leadership provided to the Foreign Ministry during the last two years and stated that in all activities of the Foreign Ministry, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena ensured that Sri Lanka’s inherent self-respect and dignity was not compromised.

State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya and Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage welcomed the new Minister and stated that they looked forward to continue delivering on the mandate of the Foreign Ministry under his guidance. Both State Minister Balasuriya and Secretary Colombage thanked the outgoing Minister for his visionary leadership and guidance over the last two years.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

18 August, 2021

Full Media Release at: https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-assumes-duties/

Full Media Release :  https://mfa.gov.lk/regional-consular/

Full Media Release : https://mfa.gov.lk/india-slfm/

As a continuation of his outreach to the leadership of the Southern States of India, Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, Dr.D.Venkateshwaran visited the State of Andhra Pradesh this week and had meetings with several dignitaries of the State at the political level. The Deputy High Commissioner called on the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Shri Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy at his office in Vijayawada on 26^th July instant.  A young and dynamic politician from the YSR Congress Party of India and being the 17^th Chief Minister, Shri Jagan Mohan gave an overwhelming welcome to the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka for Southern India. They discussed on the ways to deepen the bilateral relationship between Andhra Pradesh and  Sri Lanka and as an initial effort Dr.Venkateshwaran invited a delegation headed by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh to visit Sri Lanka. Also, Deputy High Commissioner requested Shri Jagan Mohan to support and facilitate the Sri Lanka’s greatest investment ‘Brandix Apparel City’ in Vishakhapatnam.

During the visit, the Deputy High Commissioner also called on the Governor of Andhra Pradesh Shri Biswabhusan Harichandan at his office at the Raj Bhavan in Vijayawada. Dr.Venkateshwaran discussed on the long standing relationship between Sri Lanka and Southern India. On the same day the Minister for Tourism, culture, Youth Advancement (Sports)  Shri Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao had a courtesy call on Dr.Venkateshwaran and they exchanged views on sports and youth affairs between Andhra Pradesh and Government of Sri Lanka. Shri Srinivasa Rao explained about the Andhra’s big trail of Buddhism and invited Deputy High Commissioner to visit the Buddhist temple in their State and the Deputy High Commissioner also accepted the same. This discussion is very healthier to enhance the ties between Andhra and Sri Lanka on tourism, specifically for the inbound tourism related to Buddhist pilgrims from  Sri Lanka.

Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka
Chennai
02^nd August 2021

Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka visited Brandix India Apparel City (BIAC) located at Atchutapuram near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on the invitation of Mr. Ashroff Omar, Group CEO of Brandix. The Deputy High Commissioner toured the Brandix Park while its Management team including Brandix India Country Head Mr. Neil Rosayro, Partner Mr. PC Doraswamy, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Mr. Saravanan Chandramouleeswaran and HR General Manager Mr. Uditha Weerabahu explained the process and functioning of the company. The Deputy High Commissioner termed the Brandix Park as exemplary and for being one of the largest Foreign Direct Investments in India by Sri Lanka.

The Deputy High Commissioner appreciated the world class infrastructure, state-of-the-art water and effluent treatment plants instituted to facilitate the textile and apparel manufacturing which complies with the international standards. He also appreciated the fabric, garment manufacturing and accessory manufacturing units for its organized assembly line production processes, design and quality of the finished products. He also appreciated Brandix for training and upskilling rural women workforce in manufacturing products for international brands and labels. During his visit to the operating units, the Deputy High Commissioner met some of the Brandix associates including expatriates from Sri Lanka and admired the way the Brandix Management has taken care of all the associates during the pandemic and advised the management to continue to take care of them in future too.

The Deputy High Commissioner was overwhelmed to learn that Brandix apart from being the largest textile park operational in the country was also the largest employer of women workforce with over 20,000 employees at a single location. The Deputy High Commissioner was amazed at the achievement of the Brandix Textile Park for its exports within a short period despite facing pandemic crisis and recession in the international market. He also enquired on the issues hindering the progress of the Park and assured of his fullest support in reaching the next level of success. The Deputy High Commissioner recommended the Management to further expand and develop integrated value chain in all segments.

Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka
Chennai
28^th July 2021

Senior executive members of the Sri Lankan Friendship Association of South India paid a courtesy visit to Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Dr. Venkateshwaran on 20th July 2021 at the Chancery. The Deputy High Commissioner was given an overwhelming welcome by the Association members with their compliments on his appointment as the DHC. Making his remarks, Dr. Venkateshvwaran asserted the importance of bolstering bilateral relationships between Southern Indian states and Sri Lanka in terms of economic, political and cultural diplomacy and convinced them about his intentions to be executed in order to reach these goals. Moreover, he praised the efforts being taken by the association for the sake of the Sri Lankan community living in southern India. Rounding off the discussion DHC humbly requested from the association members to extend their fullest cooperation to Sri Lanka in order to combat the impediments being encountered due to the pandemic.

The Sri Lankan friendship association was established in 2019 with the objective of giving mutual support to the Sri Lankan Community and it comprises 25 members who have Sri Lankan origin and currently residing and doing well established operations in southern India.

The Deputy High Commissioner, Dr.D.Venkateshwaran visited the Puducherry (Union Territory of India) and the Karaikal Port last week and had a discussion with several dignitaries at various levels.

The Deputy High Commissioner called on the Chief Minister of Puducherry Shri N.Rangaswamy at his office on 02^nd July.  Being a senior politician from the All India N.R.Congress party and fourth time Chief Minister of Puducherry, Shri Rangaswamy warmly welcomed the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka for Southern India. The discussion was very diplomatic and on the ways to improve the bondage between Puducherry and Sri Lanka economically, culturally and on other aspects.

Dr.D.Venkateshwaran also called on the Lt.Governor of Puducherry Dr.Tamilisai Soundararajan at her office Raj Nivas. Additionally, she holds the portfolio as the Governor of Telangana. Dr.S.Tamilisai discussed about the extension of airport of Puducherry which can be easier way to travel to Sri Lanka in future. The Deputy High Commissioner extended her an invitation to visit Sri Lanka with a delegation team. Also, the Deputy High Commissioner had an online discussion with the Telangana bureaucrats and administrative officers organized by Dr.Tamilisai at her office.

As a conclusion, Deputy High Commissioner had a visit at the Karaikal Port which is a maritime gateway located near the Union Territory of Puducherry. Dr.Venkateshwaran met the Chief Operating Officer of Karaikal Port Private Limited, Capt.Vijay Nicodemus and discussed about the ferry services between Karaikal and Thalaimannar or Kankesanthurai. The Deputy High Commissioner had a port visit along with the relevant authorities.

Puducherry formerly called as Pondicherry is one of the famous tourist destinations in South India. Although it is a famous city in India, it is a French colony under the Central Government of India, New Delhi. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Puducherry likes to visit the Deputy High Commissioner office in Chennai to explode their interest with Government of Sri Lanka.

Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka 
Chennai
06^th July 2021

Full Media Release https://mfa.gov.lk/sl-submarine-cable/?fbclid=IwAR1DCY6TQr98k3E6CQ4aZDSnbdev4fCDBG_0EcLWHPZ6tKrzVKNCa1IN4GQ

In accordance to the vision on the of H.E. The President, on the direction of the usage of organic fertilizers, the Deputy High Commissioner Dr.D.Venkateshwaran visited one of the biggest organic fertilizer plants in Tamil Nadu – Kothari Sugar and Chemical Limited at Trichy on 25th June.

Kothari Sugars and Chemicals Limited is one of the earliest sugar factories in Tamil Nadu since 1961. In addition to sugar mill, this unit also has facilities for co-generation of power from bagasse, distillery unit to produce industrial alcohol i.e., anhydrous alcohol, extra neutral alcohol & rectified spirit from molasses and Bio-compost (Organic Manure) with press-mud and distillery effluent.

Dr.Venkateshwaran met the General Manager (Technical) Mr.V.Ramachandran and the Deputy General Manager (Distillery) Mr.S.Pushparaj. The usage of new technologies for different types of crops like tea, rubber, sugar and paddy were discussed. They took the Dr.Venkateshwaran to their plant and explained the process of preparation of organic fertilizer in detail.