FCCISL: A platform to demonstrate strength of regional chambers

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Strengthening inter connections and relationships among the regional chambers, plays a significant role in achieving the primary goal of the Chamber movement in Sri Lanka.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Central Province (FCCISL) President Anuruddha Warnakula said at the Regional Chamber Leaders Summit 2012 at Ramada Hotel, Colombo recently.

He said the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), had taken many initiatives to strengthen the regional chambers spread over the island to develop wider network and integrate chambers with each other.

He said the summit had a set of objectives such as strengthening the chamber movement, promoting linkages among chamber leadership, infuse professional discipline to the chamber movement, peer learning, skills and knowledge sharing, identifying common issues affecting businesses and developing a strategy for lobbying for economy of scale.

“It is a platform for demonstrating the strength of regional chambers and collectively discusses and prioritizes the policy and regulatory issues faced by the regional business community and lobby and advocate with the national level policy makers and authorities thereafter, Warnakula said.

Senior Minister, Good Governance and Infrastructure Facilities, Rathnasiri Wickramanayake, the chief guest at the event, said the Chambers must encourage raw material in turn to develop the economy of the regions, creating employment opportunities and developing infrastructure.

The event was organized by the FCCISL in collaboration with the Asia Foundation and Australian International Agency for Development.

(AUSAID)Twenty seven Regional Chambers and national bodies in the chamber movement participated at the event.

Head, International Affairs and Policy Advocacy issues, Kulathunga Perera said the summit declaration signed by the Regional Chamber Leaders would be submitted to the decision makers of the government shortly.