Financial Times - Canada pushing for early return to Lankan peace negotiations

Canada will continue to press both parties to return to the negotiating table to make it possible for the people of Sri Lanka to enjoy, at the earliest possible time, the fruits of a peaceful, prosperous and equitable society, said Rachael Bedlington, tht country’s acting High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the 15th AGM of the Sri Lanka – Canada Business Council (SLCBC), she said bilateral trading relationship was doing very well with exports of grain from Canada and apparel from Sri Lanka still accounting for a large percentage of the goods that are traded.

Jayantha Wickremasinghe, President, in his address said the trade promotion mission to Canada in October 2005 and the MoU signed with the Sri Lankan Chamber of Commerce in Canada were some of the key activities undertaken by the council in 2005. He said that as a part of the business plan for 2006, SLCBC has already taken the initiative to establish a relationship between the Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa and the Canadian High Commission with a view to exploring the possibilities of strengthening the existing ties between the Canadian Universities and the University of Moratuwa.

Primal Wijenayake, Chairman of Widac Holdings (Pvt) Ltd was elected as the President and H. D. Gunawardhana, Chairman of Prudential Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and Rajah Abeyasinghe , Joint Managing Director , Allied Trading and Engineering (Pvt) Ltd were re-elected as Vice Presidents.