The projects thus delivered are: the launch of direct  flights between Colombo and Varanasi; the island-wide launch of the Emergency Ambulance Service; and the handing over of the first lot of the 14000 houses for plantation workers in the upcountry.

The High Commissioner reiterated that India’s development efforts in Sri Lanka are aimed at touching the lives of the people, and making a genuine difference to their lives.”

High Commissioner Sandhu was the Chief Guest at the Tenth Annual General Meeting of the Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry held at the Taj Samudra Hotel here.

Among the participants at the function were many industry leaders and Ms Indira Malwatte, Chairperson of Export Development Board.

The High Commissioner commended the entrepreneurs in the Indo-Lankan chamber for their spirit and hard work to bring prosperity to both countries.

However the envoy pointed out that the Indian and Sri Lankan governments alone cannot create development and said that the industrialists of the two countries have an important role to play in determining the developmental trajectory.

Quoting from a speech made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit held in Hyderabad last November, Sandhu said that  the power to think differently and ahead of the time for the betterment of mankind is what sets entrepreneurs apart.”

Sandhu urged the assembled industry leaders to look far ahead.

The President of the Indo-Lanka Chamber, Vish Govindswamy, spoke about that active engagement between the industries of the two countries. There has been  an increase in interaction between the Chambers of Commerce of the two countries and visits of business delegations, he said.

Govindaswamy enumerated the efforts made by the Indo-Lanka Chamber to promote business ties between the two countries.

(Indian High Commissioner Sandhu being welcomed by Vish Govindaswamy at the Indo-Lankan Chamber of Commerce function)