SLCSMI marks 48th anniversary

‘Industrial Excellence Awards’ in November:

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI), celebrates its 48th anniversary with the sixth annual ‘Industrial Excellence Award’, on November 22 at ‘Waters Edge’. Very special personalities for this occasion are High Commissioner for Australia Kathy Klugman, Ambassador for Cuba Nirsa Castro Guevara, Ambassador for Vietnam Ton Sinh Tanh.

A special feature of this ceremony is the emphasis on the small enterprises in the eight provinces of the country with the Regional Development Bank being the principal sponsor, with 251 branches in the eight provinces. With the application for ‘IEA 2011’ closing first week of October 2011, the Chamber had received 460 applications through their regional branches, where eight recognition awards will be presented to the winners from the eight provinces, said Chamber President Aloy Jayawardena.

The Regional Development Bank (RDB) launched the Welanda Sabhawa programme recently in line with the banks efforts and commitment to empower Sri Lankans. This forum is targeting small and medium entrepreneurs, to assist them in venturing into new businesses and developing existing businesses as well as educating them on a range of issues - accounting, marketing, offering comprehensive details on how to manage the challenges in business. First Welanda Sabhawa was held at Dankotuwa and others are due to be held in the provinces of Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Western, Central, Southern and North Central within the coming months.

The Chamber is to provide resource persons from their membership to deliver lectures to improve the activities of business. At the first Welanda Sabhawa, the Chamber provided a Resource Person, DSI Group Chairman Nandadasa Rajapakse who spoke on developing entrepreneurship. The Welanda Sabhawa takes steps to make the middle and lower income range of the public a part of the current development stride in the country with the dawn of peace said Bank Chairperson Janaki Kuruppu.

Chamber President Aloy Jayawardena said that they have received 100 applications from the SME sector, from its members and outside for their main award ceremony. The main award for this is the ‘Platinum’ which carries an Elegant Trophy and a Cash Prize of Rs. 50,000. It also carries gold, silver and 7 bronze awards. The selection committee is chaired by Professor Kapila Jayasinghe of the Moratuwa University. Others in the panel are representatives from the Industry and Commerce Ministry, the BOI, the EDB, the NEDA and a senior member of the Chamber.