Oct 11, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched the campaign for the 2013 Commonwealth Business Forum at a ceremony held in the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo today.

A Commonwealth Business Council delegation, led by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mohan Kaul and consisting of its Managing Director Nilk Holme and Manager Operations for Media Sean Leno took part in today's launching of Colombo 2013 campaign.

The 2013 Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) is scheduled to be held on November 15, 16 and 17 in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2013.

Sri Lanka will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2013 that will bring the leaders of 54 member countries of the Commonwealth to the island.

The forum, to be held under the theme 'Partnering for Wealth Creation and Social Development -The Commonwealth, Indian Ocean and SAARC' aims to attract international business community to Sri Lanka.

An exhibition of locally made export production was also displayed for the international business visitors at the launch today.

Ministers Prof. G. L. Peiris, Tissa Vitharana, Rishad Bathiyutheen, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, and Douglas Devananda, Deputy Minister Neomal Perera, and Bank of Ceylon Chairman Gamini Wickremasinghe also participated in the launching.

(Photos by Sudath Silva)