Sri Lankans swindled in the Seychelles

[Grandlarousse]

Sri Lankans swindled in the Seychelles

Many Sri Lankans have reportedly been swindled in the Seychelles by two persons namely Robert Piksa and Marco L Francis of Seychelles.

They have allegedly cheated many Sri Lankan businessmen promising deals in the Seychelles and obtaining funds, starting from exporting fish to Sri Lanka, opening up offshore companies and bank accounts for money laundering were some of the rackets the duo were allegedly involved in.

Robert Piksa a Czech Republic citizen has reportedly cheated many people around the globe starting from Europe, Thailand, Russia and now Sri Lanka and is on the verge of getting de ported from the Seychelles.

It is learnt that he pretends to be the consultant of the Czech prime minister and has cheated Sri Lankan businessmen in various deals mainly in exporting fish.

A senior official at the Bank of Ceylon Seychelles branch has reportedly fallen prey to Robert Piksa’s wheeler dealings.

The official from the Bank of Ceylon Seychelles branch had reportedly started business with Piksa in exporting fish to Sri Lanka as well as working on money laundering businesses with Robert and his partner Marco L Francis.

According to reports, Marco L Francis a prominent figure in the Seychelles and the president of the Seychelles chamber of commerce is one of the main culprits in forming offshore companies and bank accounts for money laundering and providing illegal dealing for rouge companies around the world and Sri Lankan politicos.

With Marco L Francis position in the Seychelles chamber it has been easy for the duo to promote themselves in attracting foreigners (Local Sri Lankans) to send them money with no agreement but only on trust to start off businesses.

Rober Piksa had always been the front end and Marco playing a silent role from the back to make sure the investors money dossiers.

It’s also understood that Peter Sinon the Minister of Natural resources and Fisheries of Seychelles a very close friend of Robert Piksa has ‎promoted Piska by attending business meetings with the businessmen from Sri Lanka and other countries to give more confidence in trusting the duo and going in to partnerships.

We will continue to update on any new developments in this regard.

http://lankaherald.com/2014/10/30/sri-l ... eychelles/

http://seychellesrealitytoday.blogspot. ... elles.html

Comment - We thank those from Facebook who posted this article. We have stated time and time again our exile/refugee connection with the Sri Lankan forget those who lived in Seychelles colonial time - we were involved in the issues of the Sri Lank and taking their trouser down on the Prison ship. We were involved that we start completed new colony on BIOT then Mrs Thatcher government multinational - they supported that SIROP program and the impact on Sri lanka. Yet after change came the manner those portrayed my person and the hijack of that SIROP program the vast majority turned cold on my person - we decided to go to Harley Street and use a Sri Lanka Company to set u several company those who robbed us and the Earthquake of 2004/5 and the Tsunami and everybody choose to forget t some 250,000 lives lost it meant nothing.

Those Sri Lanka businessman who ought to listen and do their homework - we changed that Seychelles and they prefer to do business with people who have never helped or been involved with them.

[Grandlarousse]

Sri Lanka's long-time leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has conceded defeat in the country's presidential election.


His former health minister and one time ally Maithripala Sirisena is celebrating a surprise victory.
But does this mark the start of a new political era for the Asian island nation?

http://bcove.me/7rn9c8c1

[Grandlarousse]

Sri Lanka celebrates 67th Independence Day

04-February-2015
Today Sri Lanka walks into its 67th year of Independence under the theme ‘A prosperous motherland – a dignifying tomorrow’.

Sri Lankans living in Seychelles will be celebrating their country’s Independence Day anniversary on Sunday February 8 at the International Conference Centre with the flag hoisting ceremony followed by a cultural show organised by the Sri Lankan high commission in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Association in Seychelles.

Today in Sri Lanka the main celebration will be held at the parliamentary grounds in Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte, followed by cultural and religious ceremonies across the country.

Prior to the official ceremony, at the auspicious moment 7.30am, a floral tribute is being paid at the statue of the first Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake opposite the Independence Square, Colombo 7.

Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake (1883-1952) started working as a clerk in the surveyor general’s office for a short while before returning to his father’s estate to plant rubber. From 1922 he held a number of positions in the government, first as a member of the Legislative council then later as an elected member of the State Council. In 1931 D. S. Senanayake was appointed Minister for Agriculture and Lands. During World War II, when the country was short on foreign rice supplies, he opened a new trade with Egypt and Brazil which proved to be economically beneficial. In 1946, D.S. Senanayake was offered a knighthood by the British which he refused.

As Prime Minister of Ceylon (Sri Lanka as then known) from 1947, he gained respect from the Sinhalese, Tamil and European communities. Due to the unity among the people, the following year Ceylon gained its independence peacefully on February 4, 1948 from the British.

Contributed by Ruth Mohotti
University of Seychelles

[Grandlarousse]

Sri Lankans in Seychelles celebrate country’s 67th Independence anniversary

09-February-2015

Sri Lankan nationals in Seychelles commemorated the 67th anniversary of their country’s independence with a cultural performance yesterday.
During the ceremony, held at the International Conference Centre (ICCS), a message for the occasion from the newly elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena was also read.

Sri Lanka gained independence from Great Britian on February 4, 1948.

The ceremony yesterday was attended by Designated Minister Vincent Meriton, the new Minister for Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy Jean-Paul Adam, the Sri Lankan high commissioner to Seychelles Rajatha Piyatissa, as well as local and Sri Lankan dignitaries.

In his address for the occasion, Minister Meriton said independence is one of the most momentous events in the history of a country as it symbolises the birth of a nation.

“It is a moment when a people steps out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and another begins. It is a moment where the long cherished aspirations materialise and the hope for prosperity is renewed.

“On the 4th day of February every year, we are reminded of the trials and tribulations, the sacrifices and struggles that your forefathers endured in pursuit of the freedom and values you hold so dearly as a democratic nation. You derive pride from your achievements on the long walk towards sovereignty as you learn from past experiences to shape a better future,” said Minister Meriton.

He added that our two island nations are bonded by a longstanding and a mutually benefiting relationship which has grown even deeper in the past few years.

“The year 2014, brought renewed momentum in our diplomatic ties, fortified by the second visit of then President Rajapaksa to Seychelles in June. This monumental visit spearheaded many new collaborations between Sri Lanka and Seychelles and the year became one of the most eventful in our bilateral relations yet.

“Most notably, the visit saw the accreditation of H.E Rajatha Piyatissa the first resident high commissioner of Sri Lanka to Seychelles and the official opening of the Sri Lankan resident diplomatic mission in Victoria.

“We also witnessed the official opening of the Mihin Lanka Office, the Nawaloka Hospitals International medical centre, the Bank of Ceylon and a branch of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation in our capital.

“The June 2014 visit also saw the signing of six agreements between Sri Lanka and Seychelles in the fields of trade and investment, education and training, health, diplomacy, sports, tourism and culture, and thus strengthened the multifaceted partnership between Seychelles and Sri Lanka. The success of the Seychelles trade and business forum in Sri Lanka in August 2014, is testimony of the massive economic potential that exists between the two nations,” noted Minister Meriton.

The minister also commended the excellent cooperation between the Maritime Training Centre and the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (Cinec) which again demonstrates the potential of exchanges between our educational institutions. 19 Seychellois students successfully completed their basic training certification and sea watch course run by Cinec and MTC.

Minister Meriton took the opportunity to convey sincere appreciation to all the Sri Lankan nationals living and working in Seychelles.

“You continue to make remarkable contributions to the socio-economic development of our country, the well-being of our people and the capacity building of our young Seychellois. We also thank the local Sri Lankan association for their dynamism and active participation in local activities and for their voluntary work such as blood donation efforts which are greatly appreciated by the Seychellois people. You are a wonderful example of the spirit of brotherhood that binds our two peoples together,” said Minister Meriton.

After reading out the Sri Lankan President’s message, High Commissioner Piyatissa read his own message in which he described his country’s independence as an achievement that every Sri Lankan is very proud of.

“It is however more significant that we achieved our independence with the united effort of all Sri Lankan communities consisting of Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Malays and Burghers. Today we stand as a proud and united Sri Lanka with a 2,600-year heritage,” he said.

Like Minister Meriton, he noted the strong bond of friendship between Seychelles and Sri Lanka which started with the visit of President James Michel to Sri Lanka in 2012 which was reciprocated by the island’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2014.

He said this bond will be even more strengthened under the new government of President Sirisena.

He also said that the setting up of the new high commission of Sri Lanka in Seychelles almost a year ago and that of the Seychelles in Colombo last October, has helped immensely in opening the door of friendship between the two countries.

The ceremony started with the hoisting of both the Sri Lanka and Seychelles national flags in the ICCS grounds. This was followed by the lighting of lamps by the Seychellois ministers and Sri Lankan officials.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244460

[Grandlarousse]

‘Relations between Seychelles and Sri Lanka will be stronger in the future,’ says outgoing HC

18-March-2015
Outgoing Sri Lankan HC Rajatha PiyatissaIn spite of a recent change of government in Sri Lanka following which the new administration has called back a number of foreign-based diplomats, relations between this Indian Ocean island which lies south of India and Seychelles will be stronger in the future.

This was the declaration made by the outgoing Sri Lankan high commissioner Rajatha Piyatissa after he had paid a farewell visit to President James Michel at State House yesterday.

“No government wants bad relationship with each other. The change of diplomatic postings is in line with the current government policy. But this does not mean that there is a change in policy. Seychelles has been our great friend during the recent years. The Sri Lankan people are grateful to the people of Seychelles for the friendship. So our relations can only be stronger in the future,” he commented.

The outgoing high commissioner said he has assured President Michel that Sri Lanka will not only maintain the bonds of friendship with Seychelles, but will also strengthen them.

“The present government in Sri Lanka will not divert from that. We are both Commonwealth countries so we believe in the same values which we will continue to share,” he said.

He also claims to have received the same commitment from the Seychelles’ side.

“The message I have got from President Michel, from Vice-President Danny Faure and from Foreign Affairs and Transport Minister Joel Morgan is that the relations and good bonds will continue,” he confirmed.

In this vein, he added that he expects Minister Morgan to visit his country shortly.

As accomplishments recorded during his short term in office, Mr Piyatissa noted the opening of a high commission and the posting of a permanent high commissioner in Victoria.

The Bank of Ceylon, a Sri Lankan insurance company as well as medical clinic have also opened branches here.
The first Sri Lankan Trade Fair was also organised last year and about sixty-five businesses took part.

As a sign of enhanced relationship in the future, the outgoing high commissioner expects the fair to become bigger with the involvement of other countries, resulting in more benefits for both Seychelles and Sri Lanka.

Above all accomplishments, Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Seychelles at the end of June last year.

The outgoing high commissioner concluded that Sri Lankans now love the Seychelles too much and thus cannot abandon the good relationship between the two nations.

“This government has been very good to Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans. Seychelles has been our friend. Seychellois are very friendly people as I have seen through everyone that I have known, especially the local staff which have worked with me and supported me during my stay,” he remarked.

The Sri Lankan diplomat has predicted that his successor will be named “within a month or two”.

“Mon kontan Sesel”, were Mr Piyatissa’s last words to the local press as he prepares to leave the country this coming Saturday.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244832

Outgoing HCs pay farewell visit to President Michel
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244831