Tamil Nadu trade team to visit SL

17 September 2012 05:32 pm Views - 3290

A 45-member trade delegation from Tamil Nadu will visit Sri Lanka this week to explore ways to improve trade relations between the country and the southern Indian state.

Executive members of the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (TNCCI) will arrive here on Thursday on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka, according to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce which is Sri Lanka's main trade representative body.

The TNCCI, that was instrumental in making Madurai an international airport, would have its representatives get on board the first international flight leaving from Madurai heading for Colombo on September 20.
The Ceylon Chamber said the aim of the visit was to improve bilateral trade relations between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

The visit assumes significance in view of unsavoury incidents witnessed recently involving anti-Sri Lanka sentiments in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has urged the Central government to halt a training programme for Sri Lankan military personnel in Tamil Nadu. She had also recently ordered that a Sri Lankan football team be sent back from the state.

An attack against a group of Sri Lankan Catholic pilgrims early this month forced Sri Lanka to issue a travel warning for Chennai. (PTI)