SLCSMI awards ceremony honours SME sector

The Bronze award presented by Minister of International
Monetary Co-operation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Sarath Amunugama to Tropical Food Process (Pvt) Limited Chief Executive Officer Mario de Silva

The Platinum award presented by Minister of International Monetary Co-operation and Deputy Minister Finance and Planning, Dr. Sarath Amunugama to Pubudu Enginereing (Pvt) Ltd Managing Director T. A. S. Premalal, while Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera, IMF Resident Representative Dr. Koshly Matahai and Chamber President Aloy Jayawardena look on

Current President the Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries Aloy Jayawardena, receives and award in recognition for his long standing service to the Chamber

Another award recipient at the event

Cutting the cake to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Chamber

Two dance items Pictures by Saliya Rupasinghe

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries Golden Jubilee Celebrations and Industrial Excellence Awards 2013 was held at Waters Edge.

"The local SME sector constitute the bulk of the industrial sector with around 91 percent of the industries, which recorded a growth of 10.8 percent growth", said President, Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries, (SLCSMI) Aloy Jayawardena.

"Numerous benefits to the SME sector had been provided by the government but several key areas still needs to be addressed. These would help to transform SME's in Sri Lanka to a higher level. One must remember that SME's the growth engine of the country."

Speaking further at the SLCSMI Golden Jubilee Celebrations and Industrial Excellence Awards 2013 that several institutions in the country are mandated to implement SME related policies. "The existence of concurrent jurisdiction among these various institutions has compelled entrepreneurs to set up operations to drive the sector."

"Improving the overall business climate by establishing anti corruption and anti rent seeking practices is of great importance for the development of the SME sector, because it is vulnerable for negative business climate," he said.