European Union parliament delegation visits BoI Katunayake

Apr 11, 2018 (LBO) -  A delegation consisting of 6 members of the European Parliament visited the Katunayake Export Processing Zone following an invitation by the Management of Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. The delegation consisting of Mr. Jan Zahradil Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Leader, MSajjad H Karim( MEP),  Paul Rubing(MEP), David Martin (MEP),  David Campbell Bannerman  (MEP),  Ramon  Tremosa-i-Balcells (MEP),  officials of the EU including MarttiKalaus,  Andrea Cepova-Fourtoy, Felix Lutz, UrsaPondelekas well as representatives of the European Union Embassy in Sri Lanka such as  Roshan Lyman. The visit was coordinated by Mr. Roshan Lyman, Deputy Political, Trade and Commercial section EU mission in Colombo with Ms. Nilupul de Silva – Director (Promotion),  Dilip S Samarasinghe – Director (Media & Publicity),  HimaliUrugodawatte, Director (Legal) – Industrial Relations of the BOI. The visit began with a briefing at the BOI Administration office by M K D Lawrance – Acting Executive Director (Zones) whospoke on the role of the Export Processing Zones within the BOI.  Thereafter  Himali Urugodawatte made a presentation on theKatunayake Export Processing Zone.  BOI also arranged for the delegation to visit several factories.  The first was to the factory of M/s FlintecTransducers (Pvt) Ltd which is engaged in the manufacture Sensorsused in weighting scales.  This company located at KEPZ is a Swedish investment and manufactures advanced components using high technology methods. This was followed byan inspection visit to M/s Global Sports Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd factory that is involved in manufacturing Kites, sails and kite bars.  The company is an important player that manufactures for industry leaders such as North Kite boarding and North Windsurfing.  GSL has a workforce of 650 skilled workers. The company managers stated to the Parliamentarians that since Sri Lanka is just 8” North of the Equator easy access to markets for such products was a key selling point. GSL has supplied 29,000 kites, 13,000 sails and 24,000 kite bars to 46 countries.  This company is an Austrian investment and also promotes these leisuresportsin Sri Lanka notably in Kalpitiya and in the Eastern Province.