Sri Lanka-China Business Council elects new president

Seated from left: Lanka Ceramic Immediate Past President Navindra Abeysekera, David Pieris Motor Vice President Yasantha Abeykoon, People’s Republic of China Ambassador Yi Xian Liang, Agro Consolidated President Lasantha Wickremesooriya, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Patali Karunarathne, Abans Committee Member Kunendran, Singer (Sri Lanka) Vice President Thulitha Mendis. Standing from left: Stretchline Committee Member Dhammika Perera, Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Committee Member M.A. Rajap, Cosco Lanka Committee Member Joe Meng, Delmege Forsyth & Company Committee Member Nuwan Wimalana, National Development Bank Treasurer Buwanekabahu Perera, Zam Gems Committee Member A.R.M. Shafraz, Synergy Shipping Lanka Committee Member Aruna Perera, Nature’s Beauty Creations Committee Member Shamindi Kumarasinghe, Associated Motorways Committee Member Chaminda Perera, E-Arrow Committee Member Janaka Angulugaha. Not in picture: Walkers Tours Committee Member Prabath Harshakumar, Standard Chartered Bank Committee Member Niluk Kalutotage, Stretchline Committee Member Ruwan Senevirathne, Hatton National Bank Committee Member Ruwan Manatunga, Saf’s Classique Gems Committee Member Sabri Joonoos, Sinwa Holdings Committee Member Haroun Cader

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sri Lanka-China Business Council (SLCHBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) was held recently at Hilton Colombo Residences electing Lasantha Wickremesooriya as the President. The Chief Guest of the event was the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Yi Xianliang.

Addressing the members, the newly elected President Lasantha Wickremesooriya, CEO, Agro Consolidated Ltd. thanked Navindra Abeyesekera, the outgoing President, for the immense contribution made towards the growth of SLCHBC during the last three years. Wickremesooriya highlighted the council’s main objectives as to promote Bilateral Trade, Investment, Technical and Economic Co-Operation, Tourism and Services between Sri Lanka and China. 

He further stressed the need for SLCHBC to take leadership in promoting investment and trade initiatives between Sri Lanka and China. He went on to state that Sri Lanka, in his view, was yet to exploit its full potential to benefit from the growing economy of China and therefore urged the private sector to adopt the right mind set and to understand the specific needs of the Chinese consumer.

Yasantha Abeykoon of David Pieris Motor Co. Ltd. and Thulitha Mendis of Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC were elected as the Vice Presidents and Buwanekabahu Perera – National Development Bank as the Honorary Treasurer. Navindra Abeyesekera – Lanka Ceramic PLC will serve as the Immediate Past President. 

The following companies were elected to serve on the Committee for the Year 2016-2017, Abans PLC, Associated Motorways Ltd., Cosco Lanka Ltd., Delmege Forsyth & Company Ltd., E-Arrow Ltd., Hatton National Bank PLC, Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd., Nature’s Beauty Creations Ltd., Standard Chartered Bank, Saf’s Classique Gems Ltd., Sinwa Holdings Ltd., Stretchline Ltd., Synergy Shipping Lanka Ltd., Walkers Tours Ltd. and Zam Gems Ltd. The event was graced by Ambassador for People’s Republic of China for Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang, who is also the Patron Member of the Sri Lanka-China Business Council. In his address, he stated, “The Council’s support to us as we pursue our objective of promoting trade investment between our countries is equally important.” Congratulating the newly appointed Committee, The Ambassador appreciated SLCHBC’s role in hosting and facilitating business delegations and said he looks forward to closer involvement with the Council.

Navindra Abeysekera in his address as the out-going Chairman thanked the fellow Council Members for the support and cooperation extended to him during his tenure. He highlighted the difficulty in obtaining Chinese visa at present considering the present rigid visa procedures adopted and requested Yi Xianliang to intervene by talking to the relevant authorities with a view to finding a solution in this regard.