Ceylon Motor Traders Association holds 102nd AGM

• New President Charaka Perera says ideal time to strengthen the basics and gear industry to be ready for the post recovery

The Ceylon Motor Trader’s Association (CMTA), affiliated to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and one of the oldest automotive trade associations in South Asia comprising of companies who are franchise holders of global automobile manufacturers, held its 102nd Annual General Meeting on 29 June 2022 as a virtual event, due to the mobility issues resulting from the current fuel shortage in the country.

Stafford Motor Co Ltd., Director/COO Charaka Perera was elected as the Chairman, while Associated Motorways Ltd. General Manager Virann De Zoysa was elected as Senior Vice Chairman and Kia Motors Lanka Ltd. Managing Director Andrew Perera was elected as Vice Chairman. Carmart Ltd., Director/CEO Yasendra Amerasinghe is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Association.

The following were elected to the Executive Committee for the year 2022/2023; McLarens Lubricants Ltd. Director Bri Ponnambalam, Senok Trade Combine Ltd. Director Sales and Marketing Reeza Rauf, Toyota Lanka Ltd. Managing Director/CEO Manohara Atukorala, United Motors Lanka PLC General Manager Gihan Pilapitiya, Drive One Ltd. Head of Sales and Marketing Sirhan Fernando, The Autodrome PLC Joint Managing Director Rajeev Aloysius, Access Motors Ltd. CEO Ravi Perera, Sathosa Motors PLC Executive Director Priyantha Perera, David Pieris Motor Co. Ltd. Deputy General Manager Lakmal De Silva, Diesel and Motor Engineering Co. PLC General Manager Tharanga Goonewardena, and IWS Holdings Ltd. Automobiles CEO Teranka Carim.

The Secretariat of the CMTA is the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce represented by CCC Assistant Secretary General Rohan Casie-Chetty.

Addressing the members in his outgoing speech, Yasendra Amerasinghe stated that despite of the grave challenges that the CMTA members had faced over the past two years, great strides have been set in building a solid foundation for the future of the Association. 

The CMTA, with over 100-years of heritage, is the official trade body of Sri Lanka’s automotive industry and has been the driving force behind the industry for years. 

The CMTA has been at the forefront of sustainable growth of Sri Lanka’s motor industry, which has contributed greatly to the country’s economy and created a platform for employment both locally and abroad. 

The member companies of CMTA together had created around 30,000 direct and indirect jobs within their companies and its 6,000 plus dealer network, which are SMEs established across the country. 

The motor trade contributed over Rs. 130 billion to the treasury in excise duty alone in 2019, which accounted for over 6.8% of Government revenue. 

The new Chairman and Committee have been appointed during the most challenging time for the entire motor industry, as the restriction on imports still continues and the importation of spare parts also has also been hampered due to the forex crisis, which is a looming threat to the entire transportation system in the country. 

In his address to the members, Charaka Perera, quoted: “Although the motor industry and our whole country is facing its worst crisis in its recent history, I strongly believe that this would be the ideal time to strengthen the basics and gear ourselves to be ready for the post recovery period. As the Chairman of the CMTA, I promise that I will do everything in my capacity to uplift and guide the motor trade through the current crisis.”