Samantha Ranatunga takes the helm at CCC

NDB CEO Rajendra Theagarajah Vice Chairman and Dialog Axiata Plc CEO Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya comes in as Deputy Vice Chairman

New Chairman of Ceylon Chamber Samantha Ranatunga (centre) with from left: Northern Province Governor H. M. G. S. Palihakkara, CCC Deputy Vice Chairman Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Vice Chairman Rajendra Theagarajah and Secretary General and CEO Mangala P.B. Yapa – 

Pic by Upul Abayasekera

By Channa Fernandopulle

The top leadership at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) officially changed hands yesterday with CIC Group CEO Samantha Ranatunga taking up chairmanship of the chamber. 

Speaking at the 176th Annual General Meeting of the CCC, Ranatunga commended outgoing Chairman Suresh Shah and his Board of Directors for the work they carried out during their tenure at the CCC.

 He also elaborated on some of the challenges facing Sri Lanka and its private sector business community and pledged his support towards improving regional inclusivity, small and medium enterprise (SME) sector participation and skills and educational development in the country as a prelude to greater economic development moving forward. 

“There were many challenges which cropped up over the last year and these business leaders displayed a master class in handling them. During Suresh’s tenure there was an internal restructure at the chamber to make it more service oriented.

“Looking back we have achieved much but fresh challenges are looming. There has been significant upheaval in our political landscape which has created a lot of uncertainty. Over the past few years we have been able to concentrate on hard physical infrastructure but now more needs to be done to look at the soft aspects of development,” Ranatunga stated.

In addition to Ranatunga’s appointment, NDB CEO Rajendra Theagarajah was appointed to the position of Vice Chairman while Dialog Telekom Plc CEO Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya was appointed to the post of Deputy Vice Chairman.  

The AGM also saw the appointment of a nine-member Board of Directors under the newly ratified rules of the CCC in place of the former Standing Committee A.

Appointments to the board included Jetwing Group Chairman Hiran Cooray, Sunshing Holdings Plc Group Managing Director Vish Govindasamy, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd Managing Director Sheamlee Wickramasingha, Ernsy and Young Partner and Head of Tax Services Duminda Hulangamuwa, HNB General Insurance Director Faizal Salieh and CCC Secretary General and CEO Mangala P.B. Yapa.