On 23 January 2012, H.E. Mrs. Pamela Deen, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, visited BCCI and met with the President of the Chamber Tsvetan Simeonov.Ambassador Deen presented her work and noted that Sri Lanka is the second fastest growing economy in Asia. GDP grew by 8.3% in 2011 and the expectations for this year are for a growth within 8%. FDI in the country in 2011 amounted to USD 1 billion, which is 7% higher than the previous year. The services sector, especially tourism, is developing rapidly.The President of BCCI discussed with the Ambassador of Sri Lanka the upcoming visit to Bulgaria of a business delegation from the Asian country, which will take place in mid May 2012. BCCI will provide assistance for the organization of the business forum and will help find appropriate Bulgarian partners for the companies from Sri Lanka. The parties discussed the possibility for BCCI to begin close cooperation with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce after signing a Memorandum of Understanding.H.E. Mrs. Pamela Deen provided information about Sri Lanka Expo 2012, which will take place in the period 28 - 30 March in Colombo. The event will be focused on the following sectors of industry: textile industry, tea production, production of rubber and rubber articles, jewelry, IT and communication technologies, food industry. More information about the exhibition is available here. Other information sources about Sri Lanka:- Ceylon Chamber of Commerce - www.chamber.lk- Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka - www.fccisl.lk- Embassy of Sri Lanka in Poland - www.srilankaembassy.com.pl

The Government of the People's Republic of China has given concurrence to Sri Lanka to set up a new Consulate General in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province of Southern China.

Madam Yu Hong, Vice Director General of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China presented the formal agreement giving concurrence to the opening of the Consulate General on 18th January 2012 to Sri Lanka's Ambassador to China Ranjith Uyangoda during a special meeting held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.

The Consulate General in Guangzhou will facilitate the expansion of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and China in areas of economy, trade and tourism while further strengthening people to people contacts between the two countries. Sri Lanka Government has already appointed a Foreign Service Officer to the position of the Consul General in Guangzhou.

This will be the third Sri Lankan Consulate Office in China, following the establishment of the Consulate General in Shanghai in 2007 and the Consulate in Chengdu in 2009.

Guanzhou, popularly known as Canton, is the main manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta and one of China's key commercial and manufacturing regions. The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the 'Canton Fair' is held biannually in Guangzhou. Sri Lanka, with the increased number of companies, continues to participate at this trade fair.

Welcoming the Indian Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna to Sri Lanka, Minister of External Affairs G.L. Peiris emphasized the deep rooted friendship and historical ties which exist between the two countries, and elaborated that Sri Lanka and India are bound to each other geographically and in terms of their economies, which have stood the test of time.  Minister Krishna began a four day official visit to Sri Lanka on 16th January 2012, at the invitation of Minister Peiris and called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne.

Minister Peiris observed that in times good and bad and those of turbulence, stability and prosperity, the constant factor in Sri Lanka's foreign relations has been the depth of friendship with India.  In this context, he recalled the manner in which India has always stood by Sri Lanka, and provided every possible assistance.   Minister Peiris upheld that there could be issues of concern in relations between any two countries, and however the distinguishing feature of Sri Lanka's relationship with India is the spontaneity of dialogue.  He said that no issue however controversial or emotive in connotation has the two countries been unable to resolve, due to close engagement in an open manner culminating in pragmatic conclusions.  He was confident that the threshold that has been reached with regard to Indo-Lanka relations was not something fleeting, but to nurture, safeguard and develop throughout the passage of time.

Recalling that Minister Krishna had last visited Sri Lanka in November 2010, Minister Peiris further observed that there are common features in both these visits.  He outlined the first as being a platform to discuss the range of issues straddling every aspect of public policy, which include housing, transport, water, telecommunications and healthcare, giving rise to the conclusion of Agreements on these subjects between the two countries during the current visit.  The second feature of the visit was designated by Minister Peiris as being geographical, as Minister Krishna yet again was visiting the north and south, of the country.  Therefore, he said the completeness of Minister Krishna's visit in terms of subject matter and places within the island are noteworthy.

Minister Peiris in conclusion stated that Minister Krishna's visit cements the relationship which is already vibrant and substantial.  He further emphasized that it is a relationship not just among friends, but among close relatives, which was exemplified most vividly by Minister Krishna's spontaneous attendance soon after his arrival in Colombo, at the Thaipongal Ceremony on the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.  Minister Peiris upheld that this has not happened regularly or as a matter of routine between countries and their leaders, and the extension of such an invitation was a demonstration of sincerity that underpins the strong and vibrant relationship between India and Sri Lanka.

The delegation level talks led by the two Ministers were held on 17th January 2012 at the Ministry of External Affairs.  The discussions covered a range of issues of mutual interest which was followed by the conclusion of five Agreements, pertaining to the Implementation of the Housing Project for 49,000 houses; the Field of Agriculture; Cooperation between Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka; Dollar Credit Line of US $ 382.37 Million from the Government of India for the Restoration of Northern Railway Service and Buyer's Credit under National Export Insurance Account of USD 60.69 Million for Dambulla Water Supply Project.

Sri Lanka still generous, retains position in World Giving Index
 
Sri Lanka has been rated the world's eighth most charitable country in the world`. It retained its position from last year in a study of 153 nations carried out by the Charities Aid Foundation.
 
However Sri Lanka has seen a marginal drop in its score of 53% to 51% from 2010 to 2011.
 
Sri Lanka was named the country with third highest percentage of population claiming to 'volunteer time' at 46%.
 
The U.S. came top of the World Giving Index 2011 - which ranks nations based on how likely citizens are to donate money, volunteer their time and help strangers - followed by Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
 
The Netherlands was sixth, with the top ten completed by Canada, Sri Lanka, Thailand  and Laos.
 
Despite the squeeze on income, 79 per cent of Britons give money to charity each month, up from 73 per cent in 2010, according to the research.
 
Worldwide there was a 2 per cent increase in people helping strangers and a 1 per cent increase in volunteering over the past 12 months, but a 1 per cent drop in giving to charity, the study based on Gallup polling data discovered.