Keerthi Gunawardane new President of Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Monday, 3 October 2022 03:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Keerthi Gunawardane

Keerthi Gunawardane was elected as the President of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka (FCCISL) at its 47 AGM recently succeeding the first lady President Shirley Jayawardane.

Set up in 1973, FCCISL is the largest and most representative apex business organisation of Sri Lankan business. It is also the most widely spread business organisation with member bodies from all districts and provinces of Sri Lanka with a nationwide membership of over 63 chambers of commerce and business associations, FCCISL has the shared vision of Sri Lankan businesses and speaks directly and indirectly to well over 25,000 business units.

Gunawardane is an Economics special graduate from the Sri Jayewardenepura University and obtained his Postgraduate qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka in the field of Business and Financial Administration. In addition, he has qualified himself at Colombo University for Hypermedia Engineering and Multimedia Technology.

Speaking on his appointment as FCCISL President Gunawardane said: “I am deeply honoured and privileged to be the President of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka (FCCISL). I have contributed a lot to the chamber movement in Sri Lanka. The entire past presidents of FCCISL who have successfully created a strong reputation for the organisation. I should add more value to our member chambers; create an environment where all our members and their own members should benefit out of the FCCISL.”

“I am taking over the presidency of the FCCISL at a very crucial time after COVID-19 and at the biggest economic crisis in Sri Lanka of our lifetime. FCCISL has a glorious history of productive work for the benefit of member chambers and projects beneficial for their members. I take the necessary steps to support the Chambers and their members to improve their capacities in every possible way.”

Gunawardane has been a successful past president of the Sri Lanka Association of Printers. He managed to negotiate with the Government authorities to make the paper duty free and made many changes in the printing industry. This created an opportunity for many printing companies to improve their quality and export their products to the global market.

He was the chairman of International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka for six years. During his presidency for the first time Certificate of Origin and ATA Carnet Council World International Meetings were held in Sri Lanka. He initiated to popularise many ICC products in Sri Lanka. ATA Carnet, Digital Certificate of Origin, Arbitration, ICC Academy Courses and Trade facilitation agenda were few of them.

He currently serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Trade Information and Promotion at Export Development Board and Sri Lanka Print Media Academy. He is a Board Member of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), and Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board.

He has served as Council Member and a SAARC member at the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka, Chairman of the SAARC IT Council, President of the Sri Lanka Association of Printers, Chairman - FAGAT Forum of Graphic Art Technology, Board Member – Ingrin Institute of Printing and Graphics, Board Member of the - Sri Institute of Printing and Printers Co-operative Society.