NCCSL awards Patron Membership

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka conferred Patron Membership to seven of its member organisations working closely with the Chamber in promoting trade and business in the country.

Membership was offered at the 49th Annual General Meeting of the Chamber held on January 31 at Galadari Hotel Colombo.

The Members who were conferred the Patron membership are: Associated Motorways PLC, DFCC Bank, Eswaran Brothers Exports (Pvt) Ltd., Mackwoods Ltd., Nawaloka Hospitals Ltd., Ninehearts (Pte) Ltd., The Colombo Picture Palace and The Finance PLC. Patron Membership plaque being presented to Managing Director of Ninehearts Thilak Godamanna by Export Development and International Trade Deputy Minister Segu Izsadeen.

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) was founded in 1948 soon after Sri Lanka gained independence from British colonial rule, primarily to establish a forum for the Sri Lankan business community.

The foremost objective of the Chamber at that time was the Ceylonisation of trade, as the policy climate was not quite conducive to national interests. The Founder Members comprised of all leading ethnic groups, Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and Burgher. In 1951, the Chamber was formally incorporated as a Company Limited.