President Rajapaksa to address BIMSTEC summit today
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to address the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit which commence this morning (13), President’s Media Unit said in a statement.The BIMSTEC comprising seven members — Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal aimed at promoting multi-sectoral cooperation for economic and social progress of the region.
The 13 sectors are known as trade and investment, technology, energy, transportation and communication, tourism, fisheries, poverty alleviation, agriculture, cultural cooperation, counter-terrorism and transnational crime, environment and disaster management, public health and people-to-people contact.
Over the period of the past decade, the BIMSTEC was able to carry out the endorsement of the framework agreement on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, designation of 2004-05 as Visit BIMSTEC Year, establishment of BIMSTEC Chambers of Commerce and holding of the first BIMSTEC youth football tournament in Phuket, formation of the Central Department of BIMSTEC activities in Bangkok and implementation of bio-gas project in Myingyan township in Myanmar.
With a population of over 1.4 billion accounting for 21 percent of the world population, the BIMSTEC registered a gross domestic product of 750 billion U.S. dollars and a trade volume of 33 to 59 billion dollars under the BIMSTEC free trade area scheme.
The first summit of the grouping was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2004, President’s media unit said.
USAID funded vocational Training Center for Ampara
A vocational training center for the Ampara Central Camp constructed at a cost of Rs. 111 million was declared open yesterday (12)Minister of Vocational and Technical Training, Piyasena Gamage and the American Ambassador for Sri Lanka Robert O. Blake were the chief guests of the opening ceremony.
The Government of Sri Lanka with the financial assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will construct such vocational training centers in the tsunami hit areas of the South and East.
The Ampara Central Camp vocational training center will offer several courses including carpentry, water pipe mechanism, electricians and domestic electricians, repairing bicycles and repairing three-wheelers.
U.S. Government gives Batticaloa improved opportunities for trade
USAID Mission Director, Ms. Rebecca Cohn yesterday (Nov 12) declared open the market complex of Batticaloa Municipal council which was modernized under USAID program . The US Embassy , Colombo in a press release said that USAID has provided over USD 475,000 for the project.
The Press Release in full:
Batticaloa; November 12, 2008 - One of the major sources of income for the Batticaloa Municipal Council is now restored to full capacity following today’s official opening of the Batticaloa Market by USAID Mission Director, Ms. Rebecca Cohn.
A bustling marketplace since 1948, the Batticaloa market has been badly affected by repeated natural and man-made disasters since the late 1970’s. With the successful completion of major rehabilitation activities, the market can now attract both vendors and customers with its new fruit and vegetable stalls, a new fish market, a state-of-the-art water treatment system, a cold room for the fish market, a central courtyard, and a fully rehabilitated building. USAID provided over $475,000 to improve the Batticaloa Municipal Market for the benefit of the local community.
Throughout the process, USAID worked closely with the Batticaloa Municipal Council, the Batticaloa Chamber of Commerce, and the Eastern University. “One of the aims of USAID is to strengthen the relationships between community members and their local government leaders,” said Mission Director Cohn at the opening. “The market improvements are about much more than just the beautiful new facilities and renovated buildings. In the course of our activities, relationships have been strengthened among the vendors themselves, between the vendors and their local government representatives, and between the community at large with its leaders and public servants,” Ms. Cohn added.
To ensure the success of this initiative, USAID conducted preparatory meetings with all stakeholders to discuss the needs of the vendors and the local community, and to accommodate their input as well on the design of the market. As a result, the new design has improved of health and sanitation, reduced congestion, improved waste management, and provided more parking for loading and unloading of produce, fish, and meats.
Courtesy: Ministry of Defence
TN resolution passes asking for SL ceasefire
The Tamil Nadu assembly today passed a unanimous resolution asking the central government to press for negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE.
Courtesy: Dailymirror
Ampara Vocational Training Centers Open Today
Vocational training center of the Ampara Central Camp built by the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority will be opened today (12) at 02.30.p. m.
Minister of Vocational and Technical Training Piyasena Gamage and American Ambassador for Sri Lanka Robert O. Blake will be the chief guests.
The Ampara Central Camp vocational training center offer several courses including carpentry, water pipe mechanism, electricians and domestic electricians, repairing bicycles and repairing three-wheelers. New student enrolments are now taking place.
This training center is built under the programme of building ten vocational training centers in the South and the East which were damaged by the Tsunami, based on financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Rs. 111 million was spent to build this training center.
Courtesy: Lankapuvath
