CCC, Tiruchelvam Trust tie-up to promote peace

THE Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust (NTT), recognising the importance of peace for economic development have joined hands to promote peace in Sri Lanka.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed recently between the two parties taking into account the common aspirations of the business circles and civil society organisations in developing mutually beneficial relations to promote sustainable peace in Sri Lanka.

Through the MOU signed, the parties have agreed to establish "The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Fund for Peace; and mobilise resources to promote initiatives aimed at sensitising civil society and businesses about the cost of war and dividends of peace.

The CSR Fund will be used to sponsor initiatives that promote peace, whilst mobilising resources would include forging strategic partnerships with business groupings from South Africa, Northern Ireland etc, where the private sector played a pivotal role in promoting peace.

The Trust invited one such business group, namely the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce from Northern Ireland to interact with members of the CCC.

Therefore, the CCC based on its history, credibility and its talent base is in a unique position to work in partnership with the Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust, an indigenous grant making organisation, to promote peace in Sri Lanka.