President to address Expatriate Forum

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

The first post-war Sri Lankan Expatriate Forum under the theme “The first of many opportunities to stay connected with the Motherland” will be inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 14 at the Presidential Secretariat.

Sri Lankan expatriates of all races from various parts of the world for the first time will participate in the forum which will focus on the extensive involvement of expatriate Sri Lankans in the post-war development activities in the island.

President Rajapaksa will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session.

The other speakers at the inaugural session will be Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Investment Promotion Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Tourism Nandana Gunathilaka and the Advisor to the President on the North and East Development Chandra Fernando.

The interactive session of the forum will be held at the Galle Face Hotel on November 14.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake will deliver the keynote address.

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Tourist Board and the Central Bank representing the banking sector of the country will make presentations at the forum.

The Interactive session at the forum will be conducted with the exchange of ideas and views by moderator H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, former Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The concluding remarks of the forum will be made by Minister of Public Administration and Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Sarath Amunugama. Prior to the ending of terrorism early this year, an Expatriates’ Forum consisting of Tamil professionals was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo.

However, the post-war forum of Sri Lankan expatriates will comprise Sri Lankan professionals and investors of all ethnicities from various parts of the globe, according to informed sources.