Govindasamy elected new Chairman of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

CCC Chairman Vish Govindasamy

CCC Vice Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa

CCC Deputy Vice Chairman Krishan Balendra

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce yesterday elected business leader Vish Govindasamy as its new Chairman during the CCC’s 182nd Annual General Meeting. 

Govindasamy succeeds Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, who completed his two-year term as Chairman at the culmination of the AGM.

Govindasamy is currently Managing Director of Sunshine Holdings PLC, a diversified conglomerate listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange – Sri Lanka. Prior to this, he was the CEO of Watawala Plantations, where he was instrumental in turning the company around and leading it to become the highest capitalised regional plantation company in the Colombo Stock Exchange.

Senior Partner and Head of Tax at Ernst & Young Duminda Hulangamuwa, and Chairman of John Keells Holdings Krishan Balendra, were appointed as Vice Chairperson and Deputy Vice Chairperson respectively.

Jetwing Travels Chairperson/Managing Director and Jetwing Hotels Chairperson Shiromal Cooray, Cargills Food Company Managing Director and Cargills (Ceylon) Director Asoka Pieris, and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Secretary General/CEO Manjula de Silva, were re-elected to the Board of the Ceylon Chamber. 

Hayleys Group Executive Director Sarath Ganegoda, Lion Brewery Ceylon Chairman and Ceylon Beverage Holdings Chairman Amal Cabraal, and Standard Chartered Bank CEO Bingumal Thewerathanthri were elected as three new members to the Board.

In his acceptance speech, Govindasamy said he was honoured and privileged for the trust the membership of the Ceylon Chamber – a respected, long-standing, and highly influential organisation – has placed in him.

“I look forward to working with the Board, Committee, Secretariat at the Chamber, members and affiliated associations of the Chamber, to support and advance the causes of the private sector while adopting a ‘nation first’ approach. The Chamber is called upon to be the clarion voice of the private sector – a voice which is non-partisan, and which is raised solely in the interest of Sri Lanka.  I intend to continue the approach for this great institution,” Govindasamy added. 

“As the first Chairman to have taken over this role virtually in its 183-year history, I look forward to serving the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and its members to the best of my ability.”

He commended the outgoing Chairman Dr. Wijayasuriya, who steered through a very difficult period for the country and the private sector, which underwent the twin black swan events of the Easter Sunday incidents in April 2019 and the COVID-19 crisis. 

“I have witnessed and experienced the high level of attention and care Hans has given the Chamber and under his leadership, the Chamber has progressed to new higher heights,” Govindasamy said, thanking Dr. Wijayasuriya for his untiring dedication. 

The new Chairman also expressed his gratitude to past Chairman Tilak de Zoysa for having nominated him to the committee some 10 years ago. Govindasamy also thanked past chairs Susantha Ratnayake, Suresh Shah, and Samantha Ranatunge, under whose chairmanship he served as committee member and board member for guiding and coaching him. He also thanked the past Chairman Rajendra Theagaraja for selecting him as Deputy Vice Chairman and Dr. Wijayasuriya, who was Vice Chairman at the time. 

“Without all of you, I would not be here taking this position today,” Govindasamy said. 

He also thanked his company Sunshine Holdings, its board members, his family and God, for having given him the courage to take up this position today.