Sweden to help business, industrial development in NE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 February 2003, 19:40 GMT]
The Charge d'Affairs of the Swedish Embassy in Sri Lanka Ms Ann Marie Fallenius Sunday said in Trincomalee that the Chambers of Commerce in districts of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara in the northeast province would be given a boost to expand their institutional capacity and professional competence building program under an agreement the Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCISL) signed recently in Colombo with the Swedish International Co-operation Agency (SIDA) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Southern Sweden (CCISS), sources said.

The amabassador met the officials of the Trincomalee District Chamber of Commerce (TDCC) Sunday at the Nilaveli Beach Hotel in Trincomalee. President of the TDCC Mr.K.Thurairajah presided.

She added the economic prosperity of Sri Lanka critically depends on the success of the peace talks and finding a political solution to the conflict. The Swedish government is very much interested in assisting the parties in finding a political solution to the problem, she said.

Ms Ann Marie Fallenius further said the government of Sweden is fully backing the peace process, which has created an opportunity to develop the northeast. The international community will everything possible to prevent another war in the island, she stressed.

A sum of one hundred million rupees has been allocated under the agreement with Swedish based SIDA and CCISS to implement a project with a full package of funding and technical support for rapid restructuring of the neglected industries in the five districts, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara in the Tamil dominated northeast province, FCCISL sources said.

Based on the agreement signed with the SIDA and CCISS, the Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Sri Lanka (FCCISL) has signed separate MoUs with five district Chambers of Commerce (Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara) for the implementation of the project.

Trincomalee district Chamber of Commerce Secretary Mr.R.Rajarammohan said, " Not so long ago our little town of Trincomalee was branded a war zone. Civil administration had very little to offer to the general public. Even though the war continued for almost two decades many bold attempts were made by the local traders and industrialists to convene a chamber. Sadly all attempts failed. Today for the first time since independence of the country the Government of Sweden has come forward to help the business community of our region."

"This is a wonderful moment for the business community of Trincomalee. A dream come true I should say. The nation celebrated the first successful year of genuine peace. A marvelous victory and a Himalayan achievment after a two long decades of war. We should thank the government and the LTTE for this achievement. Let us all get together to make this a lasting peace," said TDCC Secretary Mr. Rajarammohan.

Mr.P.Vickremanayagam made the welcome address. CCISS Executive Vice President Mr.Ingemar Nilsson also spoke.


Swedish Charge d' Affairs Ms Ann Marie Fallenius is seen speaking. CCISS Executive Vice President (on her left) and Mr.K.Thurairajah, President , TDCC (on her right)


Swedish Charge d'Affairs in Sri Lanka Ms Ann Marie Fallenius is seen with Trincomalee District Chamber of Commerce officials; ( L-R) Mr.Samantha Abeyawiockrema, Secretary General of FCCISL, Mr.Ingemar Nilsson, Executive Vice president of the CCISS, Swedish Cahrge d'AffairsMs Ann Marie Fallenius, TDCC President Mr.K.Thurairajah, Vice President Dr.K.Hemachandra, Secretary Mr.R.Rajaramohan

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