Archives July 2021

Deputy High Commissioner Visits Brandix Park, Andhra Pradesh

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
28th July 2021

Executive members of the Sri Lankan Friendship Association of South India calls on the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Southern India.

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.

Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Southern India Dr.D. Venkateshwaran on an official visit to Puducherry & Karaikal port

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 02nd 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
06th July 2021

Book on Rehabilitation of Ex-Combatants by Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation and Department of Government Information

The Sri Lankan government has been commitment to the rehabilitation of ex LTTE combatants and reintegrating them into society. This restorative justice adopted by the government is seen in the book ‘ Rehabilitation of Ex- Combatants’ published by the Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation and the Department of Government Information on Rehabilitation of Ex- Combatants, Sri Lanka.

https://www.bcgr.gov.lk/sites/all/themes/bootstrap/common/images/Rehabilitation-of-Ex-Combatants.pdf

 

Visit To Kothari Sugars And Chemical Limited (Organic Fertilizer Plant)

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.

VISIT TO COAL AND OIL GROUP (POWER PROJECT)

As an attempt of outreaching the business and trade, the Deputy High Commissioner Dr.D.Venkateshwaran visited one of the largest Thermal Power Plant in South India  Mutiara Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) of Coal and Oil Group situated at Tuticorin on 24th June. The Coal and Oil Group is an integrated energy and infrastructure company found in 1998 and it has been operating for over 2 decades in the Indian energy sector. The 1200 MW Mutiara Thermal Power Plant has been providing fuel management solutions predominately with imported thermal coal but also pet coke, anthracite, sized coal etc. Dr.Venkateshwaran met the Director of Projects, Mr.J.Y.M.Abdul Cader and other official of shipping Mr.Ahmed Ejas. Mr.Abdul discussed with the Deputy High Commissioner on the transmission of 600 MW power to Sri Lanka and also about the import of coal, fuel management and power generation. Also, the distribution of power to various organizations through MTPP was also discussed. As a conclusion, the Deputy High Commissioner inspected the site accompanied by the company officials and as a CSR activity Dr.Venkateshwaran planted a tree at their site premises.

DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER OF SRI LANKA IN SOUTHERN INDIA DR.D. VENKATESHWARAN ON A OFFICIAL VISIT TO KERALA

Continuing 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 Kerala last week and had meetings with several dignitaries of the State at the political and business levels.

The Deputy High Commissioner called on the Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Pinarayi Vijayan at his office on 29th June instant. An experienced and versatile politician from the Communist Party of India and twice Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan warmly received the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka for Southern India. Both of them shared their views with respect to the enhancement of the relationship between Kerala and Sri Lanka culturally, economically and in other aspects.

Dr.Venkateshwaran invited a delegation headed by the Chief Minister of Kerala to visit Sri Lanka and the invitation was accepted by the Chief Minister. In this regard, the official confirmation is expected soon from the Chief Minister’s office.

During the visit, the Deputy High Commissioner also called on the Governor of Kerala Shri Arif Mohammad Khan at his office at the Raj Bhavan in Trivandrum. Mr. Khan, an eminent and distinguished senior political personality discussed about the religious involvement of Shree Narayana Guru, the great holy Hindu Guru of Kerala and a social reformer and his historical trips to Sri Lanka twice.

On the same day Dr.Venkateshwaran met with the President of the Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) S.N. Raghuchandran Nair, Vice President B.Govindan, AND Secretary Abraham Thomas along with other office bearers and discussed on the enhancement of investment and trade opportunities. The meeting was held at the Muscat Hotel, Trivandrum. The Trade delegation agreed to visit the office of the Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai to finetune their investment proposals for Sri Lanka before visiting the Country. Concluding the visit, Deputy High Commissioner Venkateshwaran paid visit to the Santhigiri Ashram, a recognized Social and Scientific research organization by the Government of India. Dr.Venkateshwaran met with Swami Jannama and discussed on the various life skill activities carried out in the Ashram such as dairy farming, organic farming and meditation. Kerala, is the 8th largest State in India economy wise and also the State with the highest literacy rate in India. The State capital Thiruvananthapuram formerly known as Trivandrum is considered an Information Technology hub which contributes 55% of the State exports.

Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka
Chennai,

06th July 2021