24th AGM of Sri Lanka-Malaysia Business Council

Executive Committee of the Sri Lanka-Malaysia Business Council 2018/2019. (Seated from left): Immediate Past President Aashiq Lafir, Vice President Keerthi Jayasuriya, Chief Guest Ismail Mohammed Bakri, President Iqram Cuttilan, Vice President Damitha Jayawardena, Chamber Secretariat Ayoni Rangala, (Standing from left): Committee Members; Shanil Fernando – World Express CMB, M.H.K.M. Hameez – Spillburg Holdings, Surath Peiris – Kenanga Investment Corporation, Abdul Carder – Zam Gems, Mizha Mizver – Macksons Holdings, Ranjan Nadesapillai – Nadesapillai Associates, Hsin Haw Li – Public Bank Berhad, Khalid M. Farook – Ilham Inspirations Sri Lanka, Dilan Jayakody – Hemas Air Services

Sri Lanka-Malaysia Business Council (SLMBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its 24th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 19 July at the Hilton Colombo Residences, and Malaysia Embassy in Sri Lanka Minister Counsellor Ismail Mohammed Bakri graced the event as the Chief Guest.

In his welcome address, SLMBC President Iqram Cuttilan said, “The Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council has been one of the vibrant Business Councils under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. During the past year too, the Council has been active in hosting and meeting several business delegations from Malaysia who visited Sri Lanka.” Cuttilan further emphasised in his speech that the Council continued to maintain excellent business relationship with the counterparts in Malaysia, the Malaysia Sri Lanka Business Chamber who visited Sri Lanka several times, with the last occasion being in June 2018. 

As the Chief Guest for the AGM, Ismail Mohammed Bakri congratulated the Council President and the Executive Committee saying, “I believe that you will continue to play a crucial role in promoting trade between Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Furthermore, I believe there is a lot more room for us to expand and we have also initiated to express our interest to begin a Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka, and I do hope that this FTA will commence very soon. Sri Lanka has a very vast potential and we don’t want to be left out. The SLMBC has a role to play in urging the Sri Lankan government to expedite this process. I do believe that the SLMBC will continue to contribute towards the strengthening and enhancement of the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Sri Lanka, especially in trade.”

Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd. CEO/Director Iqram Cuttilan was re-elected as the President of the Council while International Scholar Educational Service Ltd. Chairman/CEO Keerthi Jayasuriya and Just in Time Group General Manager Damitha Jayawardana were selected as the vice presidents. Softlogic Holdings PLC CFO Aashiq Lafir will be serving the Committee as the immediate past president. As for Committee Members of the council for the year 2018/2019, Amana Takaful Life Plc, Hemas Air Services Ltd., Ilham Inspirations Sri Lanka, Kenanga Investments, Macksons Holdings, Public Bank Berhad, Ranjan Nadesapillai Associates, Spillburg Holdings Ltd., World Express CMB Ltd., Zam Gems were elected.