Ranil shares SL’s vision and opportunities with Pan Asian members of world’s largest network of glob

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with some of the members of the Pan Asian YPO-WPO at their year-end meet at Galle Face Hotel yesterday, in Colombo. Chapter President Australia's Annie Meyer (right) and event chair Singapore's Paras Chandaria (second from left), Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Tourism Minister John Amaratunga are also present

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday shared his vision for Sri Lanka while unfolding investment and business opportunities to a group of high profile Pan Asia family companies linked to the world’s largest network of global business leaders. 

The Premier pitched for Sri Lanka in a keynote followed by an interactive session at the year-end networking meeting of the Pan Asia Chapter of the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) and World Presidents’ Organisation (WPO) at the Galle Face Hotel.

Combined, YPO-WPO connects 24,000 peers and their families in over 130 countries with their companies generating $6 trillion and employing over 15 million people. Founded in 1950, the grouping provides members with access to unique educational and networking experiences designed to support their business, community and personal leadership.

It was the first time the Pan Asia Chapter of YPO-WPO is holding a meeting in Colombo with the support of the Sri Lanka Chapter. Around 50 members, their spouses and families are in Sri Lanka for four days for networking and leisure. 

Event chair Paras Chandaria of Comcraft Asia Pacific told the Daily FT that the idea of picking Colombo as venue for the important year end meeting was to give members of Pan Asia Chapter an introduction to Sri Lanka, the new business and investment opportunities as well as future vision and plans for the country from political and business leaders. 

Apart from Premier Wickremesinghe’s insights, the closed-door knowledge sharing session for YPO-WPO Pan Asian members included perspectives from a top panel comprising Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, John Keells Holdings Deputy Chairman Ajit Gunewardene, MAS Holdings Chairman Mahesh Amalean, Dilmah Tea founder Merrill J Fernando and famous author Ashok Ferrey. The panel was moderated by former CNN Anchor Anjali Rao. 

“In his presentation the Prime Minister conveyed his vision for Sri Lanka. This he did incredibly well. He spoke of tourism, IT, manufacturing, FDI and education and reforms. We also asked for some personal advise on leadership and for potential leaders of the future,” the event chair Paras Chandaria of Comcraft Asia Pacific told the Daily FT.

CB Chief Mahendran, according to Chandaria, also made an excellent presentation about the investment climate and opportunities and why Sri Lanka is the right place to invest and why it is was the right time to do so.

Chandaria said the year-end event involves spouses and children of YPO-WPO members hence all will get a chance to do some sightseeing including visiting the cultural triangle areas such as Sigiriya and Dambulla.  They will also visit Minneriya to get a glimpse of world famous Asian elephants. The delegates flew to Kandalama yesterday and will be returning to Colombo on Sunday via the famous Viceroy train. 

Among YPO-WPO Pan Asian members present are popular online booking engine Agoda co-founder and CEO Robert Rosenstein. Among the diverse group are those engaged in manufacturing including niche, large and medium size retailers, hospitality sector and technology investors.

Chandaria whose family has extensive and longstanding investments in Sri Lanka including in aluminum, steel and garment hangers, said the delegates as tourists and potential investors, can look at Sri Lanka more closely now that they have discovered and benefitted from briefings on future potential of Sri Lanka.

Members of YPO are peers who share in common the achievement of success at an early age (before 45); a commitment to learning as a lifelong adventure; and a desire to connect authentically in an environment of trust and confidentiality.  At age 50, YPO members make the transition into WPO, the next stage in a lifelong leadership journey. 

The Pan Asia Chapter of YPO-WPO holds five meetings during the year in locations within the region. The previous year-end meeting was held in Singapore. The Group will meet first in the new year in September and first time outside Asia in Los Angeles. Sri Lanka is one of the 400 chapters in the world of the YPO-WPO.