Business Chambers condemn Ranil's statements

Representatives from several business chambers yesterday condemned statements made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on the HSBC and business chambers.

Wickremesinghe recently said the HSBC's banking licence would be revoked and it would be sent back to Hong Kong if it plays a role in securing a US$ 500 million international bond for the Government of Sri Lanka.

The Opposition Leader's statements against the HSBC matter and the country's main business chambers are unbecoming of a responsible politician in the country, said the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) President Nawaz Rajabdeen.

He said that the HSBC, which has maintained a presence in Colombo since 1892, is one of the pioneer foreign banks in the country and this type of statement is detrimental to the country since its contribution to the economy is tremendous. "It also supports the SME sector in a big way and if they pulled out from the country it would adversely affect the entire business community," he said.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/09/14/news20.asp