Canisius Fernando elected new CNCI Chairman

• Commits to lobby for a level playing field to Sri Lankan industrialists 

Canisius Fernando was appointed as the new Chairman at the 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI), the premier chamber for Sri Lankan Industry, which was held on 6 April at the Taj Samudra Hotel – Colombo. Ministry of Industries Additional Secretary - Industry and Industrial Development Chaminda Pathiraja was the Chief Guest at the Event. Fernando was holding the position of CNCI Deputy Chairman at the time of his appointment.

Fernando counts decades of experience to his credit in the private sector, holding very senior and responsible appointments in the leading industries of the country. He has obtained his Basic Degree in Management followed by his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland – Australia. He has also participated in several courses of training related to Management and Quality both at home and overseas. Currently, he is the CEO of Aqua Packaging. 

The new Chairman has also been performing as the Chairman of Ind-Expo Certification, which has been formed by the CNCI and the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka, with CNCI as the majority shareholder, to implement a UNIDO Project to establish a chamber-driven certification body to do reliable and affordable certifications to the Sri Lankan manufacturing and service industries.  

On election as the CNCI Chairman, he addressed the gathering and said that the country is passing through a difficult period with several blows to the economy.  

“We couldn’t see a conducive environment for industries in the country for the last few couples of years.  Instability of economic policies of the Government, policy changes and regulatory issues brought about a number of issues to the industrial sector. The situation was further fueled by the Easter Sunday attack on 21 April 2019, losing the public confidence in our national security, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which we are still bitterly experiencing.”

He further said that as the National Chamber of Industries, they strive in making a leveled playing field to the Sri Lankan industrialists. 

“During my office as the Chairman of the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries, I wish to work very closely with the Ministries and Government institutions to pave the avenues for our industrialists to move,” he continued. 

The outgoing Chairman, Eng. Ruwan Edirisinghe, presenting the ‘Chairman’s Review’ mentioned that they, being a chamber constantly standing for the local industrialists, ensure every effort is taken by the Chamber to protect and develop the local industries. He said that the Chamber extends an array of services to the industrial sector to facilitate their process operations, while minimising the issues. 

On identifying the importance of maintaining continual dialogue with the authorities concerned responsible for industrial development in the country Edirisinghe stated that the CNCI management had requested continuous two-monthly and three-monthly meetings with the Minister of Industries, the Minister of Trade, the State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms and the State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection. 

He further said, that in the CNCI Act, there is a provision to appoint four eminent professionals related to industry and industrial development to the Executive Council and two others to the CNCI Advisory Council to facilitate their services more gainfully to the Sri Lankan industry.  

“Therefore, we have made written requests to the respective Hon. Ministers to make arrangements to nominate a Director each responsible for industry development at the respective Ministries to the CNCI Executive Council, as we believe that such close interaction would strengthen the bonds between the public and private sectors for expeditious action to take timely decisions and effective solutions for the development of Industrial Sector,” stated Edirisinghe.

At the end of his address, Fernando thanked all the leading industrialists and the distinguished Guests present and assured his fullest dedication in his service to the Sri Lankan industry in the years to come.

From left to right : CNCI Vice Chairman Pradeep Kahawalage, Chief Guest – Ministry of Industries Additional Secretary - Industry and Industrial Development Chaminda Pathiraja, CNCI Chairman Canisius Fernando, Outgoing CNCI Chairman Ruwan Edirisinghe and CNCI Deputy Chairman Kevin Edwards