The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles organized a Sri Lanka Promotional event in collaboration with the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, California, USA on October 15th, 2012 at the Chamber conference hall.
The “Sri Lanka Promotion” at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce was an awareness campaign, which focused on overview of Sri Lanka, trade, investment and tourism.
Mr. Scott Hettric, Executive Director of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, in his opening remarks, stated that the Sri Lanka Consulate has been working very closely with their organization, and this was a great event in promoting Sri Lanka among the business community of the Arcadia city. Mr. Scott added that Arcadia is a city of affluent rich community in the Los Angeles County with a population of about 60,000. The Bloomberg Business Week has named Arcadia as one of the best places in California to live and do business. The Westfield Santa Anita Mall is a major shopping center in the city. Arcadia is popular for the Santa Anita Park Race Course and also for the Arboretum botanical garden. He appreciated the Consulate General of Sri Lanka for the initiatives taken to promote Sri Lanka, and came forward to extend the Chamber’s fullest support and cooperation to further strengthen and enhance trade and economic ties between the USA and Sri Lanka.
Dr. Hector Weerasinghe, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles, in his address, highlighted the rapid economic development after eradication of terrorism in Sri Lanka in May 2009. He stated that Sri Lanka maintains political and economic stability and the multi-ethnic and multi-religious population in Sri Lanka live in peace and harmony. He went on to say that the economy grew by 8.3% for two consecutive years – 2010 and 2012, and tourism arrivals from the world stood at about 900,000 in 2011. The visit of tourists would surpass one million this year, and expect about 2.5 million in the year 2015. Therefore, there is a requirement for more hotels in Sri Lanka. He invited the business community to invest in Sri Lanka mainly in the hotel industry and do business with Sri Lanka to capitalize the available opportunities.
The Consul (Commercial) of the Sri Lanka Consulate Mr. Sidath Kumar, made a comprehensive presentation covering overview of Sri Lanka with socio-economic indicators, trade with the world and the USA, potential export items to the US market, US GSP Scheme, Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), investment opportunities and incentives offered by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Chintana – vision for future Sri Lanka etc.
Mrs. Varini De Silva, President of M/s. Ceylon Express International, a travel & tour company based in California briefed on their company’s tour programs and tourist attractions, and said that attractive tour packages could be offered to the members of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce to visit Sri Lanka.
DVD documentaries on Sri Lanka tourism and Ceylon tea were shown to the participants. The two short films impressed all of them, and they appreciated the beauty of Sri Lanka.
All the participants were served with pure Ceylon tea with Sri Lankan biscuits during tea break and Sri Lankan traditional food for lunch.
Further, each participant was given a gift bag containing pure Ceylon tea packets, Cinnamon sticks, DVDs on Sri Lanka tourism, trade directory of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, a step by step guide to doing business in Sri Lanka, investment opportunities in Sri Lanka and brochures on Ceylon tea, cinnamon and tourism.
Sri Lanka Consulate General
Los Angeles
16/10/2012
