AmCham Sri Lanka appoints new Board for 2012/2013

The 20th Annual General Meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham) was held on 27 September 2012 at the Hilton Colombo. The new Board of Directors was appointed for the year 2012/2013.

William Weinstein, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy was the Chief Guest at this occasion. At this Annual General Meeting the incumbent President Vijaya Ratnayake was re-appointed as President, AmCham for the third successive year.

The newly-appointed AmCham Board of Directors consists of Vijaya Ratnayake – President (Managing Director – Zodiac Medicals), Prasath Nanayakkara – Vice President (Global Head of Enterprise Automation – Virtusa), Nimal Cooke – Secretary (Executive Director – The Capital Maharaja Organisation), Suren Rajanathan – Asst. Secretary (Vice President  - 3M Lanka Pvt Ltd.), Asanka Ratnayake – Treasurer (Director – Mountain Hawk Express –FedEx), James Yamanaka –Director (MD/CEO – Ceylon Tobacco Company), Rudolf Troestler – Director (General Manager – Hilton Colombo), Rajendra Theagarajah – Director (MD/CEO – Hatton National Bank Ltd.), Edward Coles-Gale – Director (Country Manager – Cathay Pacific Airways), Vasantha Leelananda – Director (Executive Vice President – Walkers Tours Ltd.), Feroz Omar  - Director (Director – Brandix Lanka Ltd.), Ruwindhu Peiris – Director (Director – Stax Inc.), Mahinda Halangode – Director (Country Manager – DuPont Lanka), and Christopher Corkey (US Embassy Representative).

The new Board well represents the main economic sectors of the membership of AmCham Sri Lanka. Out of the 13 Board Members, eight represent US equity companies.

AmCham Sri Lanka under the guidance of Vijaya Ratnayake and the Board Members over the past two years has conducted a number of events that have benefited and continue to benefit its members and affiliated organisations.

These include sector specific seminars, round table discussions, luncheon meetings featuring prominent speakers on varied topics of interest to the membership, intellectual property rights awareness, corporate social responsibility projects, guidance on the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, trade promotion and investment, lobbying and advocacy, facilitation of OPIC loans, etc.

AmCham also organises its flagship event, the annual Ambassador’s Ball, and also the AmCham Golf Tournament and Bowling Tournament, the part proceeds of which are utilised for CSR activities especially related to the education needs of underprivileged children.  

AmCham Sri Lanka is determined to go from strength to strength having celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. The chamber is committed to serve its members in promoting bilateral trade, business and investments between USA and Sri Lanka.

Commenting on his re-appointment AmCham President Ratnayake stated that AmCham had achieved its main objectives set by the forefathers at the inception of the chamber in 1992 and is committed to serve its members.

AmCham continues its operations with transparency and good governance and follows good accountancy practices.