Council for Business with Britain appoints Ameena Ziauddin as President at 26th Annual General Meeting

CBB Executive Committee 2026-2027 

The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its 26th Annual General Meeting at Westminster House, Colombo, bringing together members and stakeholders committed to strengthening trade and investment relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

Norfolk Foods Managing Director Ameena Ziauddin was elected President of the Council for Business with Britain for the 2026–2027 term. KPMG Sri Lanka Principal and Head of Deal Advisory Shiluka Goonewardene assumed office as Senior Vice President, while LSEG Chief Financial Officer Fadhil Jiffry was elected Vice President. We Are Team Rocket Chief Executive Officer Krystle Reid Wijesuriya was elected Treasurer. Immediate Past President, HSBC CEO Mark Surgenor will continue to serve on the Committee.

The following companies were elected to serve on the Council’s Committee for 2026–2027: Aitken Spence Travels Ltd., GTN Technologies Ltd., Hayleys PLC, Hilton Colombo Residences, John Keells Holdings PLC, MAS Holdings Ltd., Ocean Pick Ltd., Point to Point Consulting, Unilever Sri Lanka Ltd., Wilton Metal Box Company Ltd.

The Council also invited British High Commission Head of Trade and Investment Asanthi Fernando, Commercial Bank of Ceylon Chief Executive Officer Sanath Manatunge, The British School in Colombo Principal Hannah Wells, and British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Orlando Edwards to serve on the Committee by invitation. Shirendra Lawrence, Roshanie Moraes, and Tania Polonnowita were appointed to the Advisory Committee, ensuring continuity and strategic guidance for the Council’s future initiatives.

Addressing the gathering, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick congratulated the Council on its continued achievements in promoting bilateral business relations. While commending Sri Lanka businesses for their adaptability and innovation, he welcomed the increase in British tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka and recent developments in aviation connectivity, which are expected to further strengthen commercial engagement and linkages between the two countries.

Highlighting the United Kingdom’s continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s economic growth, His Excellency drew attention to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), one of the  most generous trading preference schemes in the world, which provides zero-tariff access for Sri Lankan exporters to the UK market. He noted that the latest reforms introduced in January 2026 provide a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s apparel sector by expanding preferential market access and enhancing the competitiveness of Sri Lankan exports. He encouraged Sri Lankan businesses to make full use of the opportunities available under the DCTS to diversify exports, increase trade, and further strengthen the economic partnership between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.

Delivering his farewell address, Outgoing President Mark Surgenor reflected on a year of significant progress for the Council. He noted the continued growth of bilateral trade, supported by the United Kingdom’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which has created enhanced market access opportunities for Sri Lankan exporters. Surgenor highlighted several key achievements during his tenure, including the establishment of a dedicated Next Generation and SME platform aimed at engaging young professionals, entrepreneurs, and future business leaders, economic briefings, networking events, and collaborative engagements with public and private sector stakeholders.

In her inaugural address, Ameena Ziauddin reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening the Council’s role as a platform for business collaboration and highlighted the success of the NextGen Committee, the first initiative of its kind established under a business council in Sri Lanka. The platform has created opportunities for young professionals and entrepreneurs to engage meaningfully with the business community while supporting the development of future business leaders.