US Ambassador hails Ceylon Chamber’s SLUSABC as primary trade and investment engine

Emphasising the need to create a more business-friendly environment for foreign investors seeking investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka Julie Chung hailed the Sri Lanka – USA Business Council (SLUSABC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce as a critical voice in advising the Government on how to reform the business environment. 

Speaking at the sixth Annual General Meeting of the SLUSABC, Ambassador Chung said that with US foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka “stagnant at about $ 13-17 million per year since 2015”, the SLUSABC is a primary engine for growing trade and investment in terms of expanding the economic partnership between the two countries. 

SLUSABC President and Bileeta CEO Sanji De Silva, who was re-elected for the year 2022/23 said the Council will continue to focus on facilitating trade between Sri Lanka and the USA, with a focus on ICT and agri-exports, as well as engaging with USAID-initiated projects to assist the Small and Medium Enterprise sectors in Sri Lanka. 

The Council’s Executive Committee for 2022/23 comprises Vice Presidents HVA Foods CEO Charithra Hettiarachchi and CBL Natural Foods CEO Randeewa Malalasooriya, Treasurer MAC Holdings CFO Tilak Gunawardana and Immediate Past President Hayleys Advantis Group Director Asanka Ratnayake.

Newly appointed committee members include Aitken Spence Travels Sashan Wirasinghe, Expelogix Channa Gunawardena, Fanam International Farhath Amith, Haycarb PLC Asitha Karunaratne and Heritage Teas Revanke de Silva.