Sri Lanka – Japan Business Council holds 42nd AGM

The 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sri Lanka – Japan Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was held recently at Ramada Hotel Colombo.

Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka/Council Patron Mizukoshi Hideaki was the Chief Guest at the AGM.

The Sri Lanka – Japan Business Council was set up in 1979 as the Sri Lanka – Japan Business Co-operation Committee (SLJBCC) by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, following a Memorandum of Understanding with the Japan – Sri Lanka Business Co-operation Committee (JSLBCC) of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). 

The SLJBC is the first bilateral business council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The main objective of the Business Council is the promotion of trade and tourism between Sri Lanka and Japan, as well as the facilitation of investments.

TOS Lanka Executive Director Merrick Gooneratne was re-elected by the members, as the President of the Sri Lanka – Japan Business Council for the year 2021/2022. Spear International Chairman/MD Shamil Mendis, Venora International Projects Chairman Sagara Gunawardana, MAC Holdings Chairman/MD Andre Fernando, and hSenid Software International Chairman Dinesh Saparamadu were elected as Vice Presidents.

Indo Asia Teas Chairman Mahen Dayananda will continue to serve on the Committee as the Immediate Past President. Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa and Desamanya Deva Rodrigo will continue to serve on the Committee as Advisers.

The Business Council members are: ASOL Traders, represented by Chanaka Kariyapperuma; Andrew The Travel Company Ltd., represented by Mahen Kariyawasan, Managing Director; Hayleys Advantis Ltd., represented by Ruwan Waidyaratne; Heritage Teas Ltd., represented by Mohan Mendis; Hirohama Ceylon Ltd., represented by Athulla Edirisinghe; Metatechno Lanka Company Ltd., represented by Jeewana Waidyaratne; Midaya Ceramic Co. Ltd., represented by Dayasiri Warnakulasuriya; Prudential Shipping Lines Ltd., represented by Rohitha Mendis; and TJ Associates, represented by Tissa Jayaweera. 

Due to the prevailing pandemic situation in the country and worldwide, all events held during the period under review by the Council for its members and other companies engaged in doing business with Japan were held as webinars.

Among them were a webinar on ‘Benefitting from Japanese Practices and Management Techniques, Overview of Taxation in Sri Lanka’ pertaining to investing and carrying on business operations, and another webinar titled ‘After The Pandemic: The Way Ahead’, which featured presentations by the Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, the Resident Representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Colombo Office and the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka Office.

Companies interested in joining the membership of the Sri Lanka – Japan Business Council may contact Julianne at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on tel. no. 0115588875 to obtain further information.