Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council holds 28th AGM

Seated from left: Infotechs Committee Member Ramya Weerakoon, SLCBC Vice President Sajith Rajapaksa, Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka David McKinnon, SLCBC President Lionel D.C. Silva, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Business Council Manager Dinithi Dias, SLCBC Vice President Ong Jhon Seon and SLCBC Immediate Past President Harith Jayasuriya. Standing from left: Abans K. Kunendran, Rajah Abeyasinghe of Hydromec International, Priyantha Chandrasekara of Thames International Educational, Consultancy and Suhayl Sangani of Ceylon Jewellery Manufacturers, Absent: Dr. Saroshi Dubash of Abans 

The 28th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council (SLCBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was held recently at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. 

The Chief Guest at the event was the Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, David McKinnon, who is also the Patron of the Council. SLCBC was launched on 14 August 1991 under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The prime objectives of the Council are the promotion of trade and investment, services, tourism and joint ventures between Sri Lanka and Canada.

Lidechsi Group of Companies Chairman Lionel D.C. Silva was elected the President of the Council for 2019-2020. 

In his address, Silva said: “Sri Lanka, in my view, is yet to exploit its full potential to benefit from the growing economy of Canada. With the renewed development agenda between our two countries, your council will have to play an important role by lobbying our Government to create an enabling environment to speed up Canadian investors in Sri Lanka as well as create the required awareness of the market opportunities that exist for Sri Lankan firms.”

High Commissioner McKinnon stated: “Sri Lanka has been through turbulent times over the last nine months. These have had an impact on the economy, but the fundamental strengths of Sri Lanka remain an educated and resilient population, fantastic natural attributes and a strategic location astride major trade routes in the fastest growing region in the world. 

“If the Government of Sri Lanka ensures an inclusive, welcoming, safe and stable environment, the private sector will drive recovery and growth, providing opportunities in all regions.”

He added that Canadian businesses already had a strong presence in Sri Lanka across sectors as diverse as agriculture, garments, aerospace and financial services, with plenty of room to grow.

Ong Jhon Seon of Prima Ceylon Ltd. and Sajith Rajapakse of Samsons Rubber Products Ltd. were elected vice presidents while Harith Jayasuriya of MAC Holdings Ltd. will serve as the Immediate Past President. 

The event provided an ideal opportunity for members to network with other council members, embassy officials and government institutions.

Abans Plc, Ceylon Jewellery Manufactures, Hydromec International Ltd, Infotechs Ltd. and Thames International Educational Consultancy Ltd. were elected from the membership to serve on the Executive Committee of the Council.

Further details regarding Council membership can be obtained from the Secretariat of the Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, No. 50, Navam Mawatha, Colombo 2. Email [email protected] or telephone 011-5588861 or 5588800.