Multifaceted Sri Lanka Promotional Event titled “Sri Lankan Produce and Food Mart” “Taste of Sri Lanka”, covering trade, tourism and culture organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bahrain in close collaboration with Lulu Hypermarket was held from 26 to 29 February, 2020 at Dana Mall Hypermarket. The event has been organized coinciding with the celebrations of the 72nd anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka and co-sponsored by the Sri Lankan Airlines.
Sri Lankan Produce and Food Mart focussed exclusively on introducing and promoting of Sri Lankan exports of goods, produce and products from Sri Lanka to Bahrain and tourism from Bahrain to Sri Lanka. The four-day event was attended by over 8,000 visitors and shoppers including nationals of Sri Lanka domiciled in Bahrain. This year’s event underscores the enduring presence of a number of Sri Lankan brands in Bahrain, as well as the variety of new entrants into Bahrain market.
Strengthening commercial relations between Sri Lanka and Bahrain Chairman, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Sameer Nass attended the ‘Taste of Sri Lanka’ Sri Lankan Produce & Food Mart, as the Chief Guest. A large number of invitees and guests including corporate leaders and businessmen, importers of goods and services from Sri Lanka, representative from the Bahrain Foreign Ministry, members of the diplomatic corps and media, among others, attended the ceremony.
Opening remarks were made by Lulu International Senior Regional Director Juzer Rupawala, and Ambassador of Sri Lanka Pradeepa Saram.
Addressing ‘Taste of Sri Lanka’ event, Ambassador Saram stated that the Embassy of Sri Lanka is proud to organize this annual promotion which allows people to experience the great variety of the Sri Lankan products, food and the ingredients of the Asian diet”. She further highlighted country’s trade, economic and touristic prospects and urged the invitees to consider making their next travel destination as Sri Lanka.
The Chief Guest and Ambassadors of Indonesia and Germany too made positive and inspiring remarks at the event and their respective experiences with Sri Lanka, in particular.
Speaking on the festival, Mr Juzer Rupawala, Director LULU Group said: “Lulu Group has been treasuring long-standing trade relations with Sri Lanka and importing a wide range of foodstuffs including fruits and vegetables, coconut oil, various kinds of biscuits, confectionary products such as Alli noodle, Ariya products and Sri Lankan instant food and related grocery foods for many years”. Sri Lankan products are accepted very well and demanded by local and expatriate customers.
Showcasing Sri Lanka’s legacy for tea industry, several tea stalls were manned by famous brands of tea such as Dilmah, Regency Teas (Pvt), Akbar Brothers, Devon tea and Renuka Teas Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd and produce were sold during the three-day event.
During ‘Taste of Sri Lanka’ Sri Lankan Produce and Food Mart, a wide spectrum of Sri Lankan products was sold at very attractive prices at all Lulu Hypermarkets in Bahrain, and customers had the chance to discover the rich food of Sri Lanka through tasting and sampling at the festival.
