No UK business representation

Friday, 08 Nov 2013

Britain's Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Michael Fallon told British Parliament yesterday that, a UK business representative will not attend the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Business Council that is scheduled to be held in Colombo from 12 – 14 November.

However, the Chairman of the Prime Minister's Trade Envoys, Lord Marland, will be in Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Business Forum, the House of Commons stated.

Government extorts millions for CHOGM from Etisalat

Friday, 08 November 2013 

The UAE based Etisalat telecommunications company has become the latest victim of threats by the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

Etisalat Sri Lanka has been threatened by the government to pay millions to be utilized for the beautification programme in the city in aid of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has requested Etisalat Sri Lanka to give Rs. 380 million to set up street lamps for the CHOGM beautification programme.

However, Etisalat had refused to make such a payment saying the company is facing a financial crisis since the business in Sri Lanka was not performing well.

When the UDA had informed the Defence and Urban Development Ministry about Etisalat’s response, the government has resorted to threatening the company to cough out the Rs. 380 million.

Etisalat Sri Lanka was asked to get the monies from its parent company in the UAE if it wished to continue with its business in the country. A company based in a Muslim country, Etisalat was let without an option given the growing campaign against Muslims in Sri lanka.
Etisalat Sri Lanka had finally given the monies to the UDA for its beautification programme.