Commonwealth Business Forum

The Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka took part in a meeting at the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday, to make arrangements for the Commonwealth Business Forum which would be held on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo in November this year.

Mahendra Amarasuriya who, with Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera, functions as Co-Chair of the Organising Committee, was present, together with representatives of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the National Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs. They were represented, respectively by Susantha Ratnayake, Bandula Dissanayake, Kumar Mallimarachchi and Dr Rohitha Silva.

External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris, who presided, explained that the purpose of the Forum was to stimulate interest in investment into Sri Lanka as well as the development of the country as a knowledge, shipping and manufacturing hub. Prof. Peiris said that participation would not be confined to countries of the Commonwealth and that countries in different geographical regions with strong trade and economic ties with Sri Lanka, would be invited.

Mohan Kaul, Co-Chair of the Commonwealth Business Council, with whom Minister Peiris had discussions in London recently, would be visiting Sri Lanka next week.