The Sri Lanka- Singapore Business Council (SLSBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce successfully concluded a business mission to Singapore recently.

The mission was organized to coincide with the SBF Seminar on Doing Business and Opportunities in Sri Lanka followed by One-to-One Business Meetings which was organized by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF); the Apex Business Chamber in Singapore with over 18,000 members, closely supported by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, the Government Agency driving Singapore’s external economy and promoting the overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises and international trade, and in association with the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore.

The eighteen member delegation led by the SLSBC President Mr. Shamil Mendis, Chairman/ Managing Director of Spear Global Holdings (Pvt) Ltd resulted in a extremely productive visit to Singapore. The delegation comprised Mr. Chris Chandiram, Director, Chief Operating Officer, Access International Projects (Pvt) Ltd., Mr. Prajeeth Balasubramaniam, General Partner, BOV Capital Ltd., & Founder/Director, Lanka Angel Network, Mr. Mahen Weerasekera, Chairman Capitol Developers Limited, Mr. Amal Rodrigo, Director, Hayleys Free Zone Limited, Ms. Roshanie Jayasundera Moraes, John Keells Holdings PLC Mr. Shiluka Goonewardene, Principal – Deal Advisory, KPMG, Mr. Andre Fernando, Chairman/Managing Director, MAC Holdings Projects (Pvt) Ltd., Mr. M.D.E. Sirisena, Chief Executive Officer, Omak Technologies (Pvt) Ltd., Ms. Nirupa Peiris, CEO/Director, Sharmaine Delile, Business Developent Manager & Ahmed Zaharan, Consultant of Property20 (Pvt) Ltd., Mr. Rohitha Mendis, Managing Director, Prudential Shipping Lines (Pvt) Ltd., Ms. Satheeka Kavisekera, Spear Global Holdings (Pvt) Ltd., Mr. Rajat Nagpal, Board Director, Sunshine Travel & Tours Ltd., and Mr. U. C. Bandaranayake, Director, Valdhue & Walker (Pvt) Ltd. The Delegation was joined by Mr. Duminda Ariyasinghe Director General/CEO of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. The mission was co-ordinated by Ms. Julianne Boulton, Manager of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The objective of the SBF Seminar was to educate Singaporean companies on the potential opportunities in doing business with Sri Lanka. The event was attended by over 90 participants from 74 well established Singapore companies including Amara Holdings Limited, a recognized brand name in hotels, properties, specialty restaurants and food services, Capella Hotel Group a top provider of hotel management services for unique hotels, resorts and spas, Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd a global leader in serviced hotel residences and boutique lifestyle hotels with close to 136 properties spanning 78 world’s major cities and international gateways in Asia, Australia, Middle East, Africa and Europe, The Ascotts Ltd., the world’s largest serviced residence owner-operator and a Singapore-owned company with over 29,000 operating serviced residence units worldwide, F&N Food Pte Ltd., a leading player in the food and beverage sector in Singapore and Malaysia, Malaysia Dairy Industries Pte Ltd., a leading dairy and beverage company with annual sales revenue of more than S$ 260 million in Singapore and RM 600 million in Malaysia, DCG Capital Private Limited, offers fund management activities to assist their clients in managing their Singapore and Asian equities as well as balanced mandates for investors, Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., a leading engineering and construction company in Singapore, Meinhardt Group with 45 offices worldwide provides engineering consulting capabilities Civil & Infrastructure, Planning & Urban Development, Structural Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Engineering, Project Management, Water & Environment, Vacation Singapore Dmc Pte Ltd., one of Singapore’s leading destination management company, which is equipped and experienced to support the leisure, cruise and M.I.C.E. business segments to name a few.
The opening remarks were made by Dr. R. Theyvendran, Vice Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation & South Asia Business Group while the keynote address was made by H.E. Nimal Weeraratne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore.

Addressing the gathering Mr. Shamil Mendis, President of the SLSBC stated that the participation of Sri Lankan delegates in a series of successful seminars and business sessions organized by the Singapore Business Federation and IE Singapore in the past has resulted in productive business contacts and partnerships between Singaporean and Sri Lankan companies. Considering Sri Lanka’s rapidly developing status as a regional hub for business Mr. Mendis invited potential Singaporean investors to visit Sri Lanka in order to explore the many opportunities available for doing business in the country.

Mr. Duminda Ariyasinghe, Director General/CEO of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka made a detailed presentation on the, Business Environment and Economic Developments in Sri Lanka.

Manager - South Asia, International Enterprise, Singapore Mr. Arthur Teng spoke on Sectorial Opportunities for Singapore Companies in Sri Lanka, while Mr. Shiluka Goonewardene, Principal – Deal Advisory, KPMG, Sri Lanka made a presentation on setting up a business and taxation in Sri Lanka.

The Seminar concluded with scheduled one on one business meetings between the representatives of the Singapore companies and the Sri Lankan delegates as well as with the opportunity for the Singaporeans to interact with the official from the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and clarify matters relating to potential investments.

The Delegation also participated in a series of meetings with companies arranged by the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI) and the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) which provided them an opportunity to network with their respective member companies and senior officials of the two Chambers.

The Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Singapore Mr. Nimal Weeraratne supported by Ms. Rekha Mallikarachchi, Second Secretary (Commercial) hosted the members of the delegation for a networking session with Singaporean companies interested in exploring business opportunities and members of the Singapore Sri Lanka Business Association (SLBA) during the mission.

Photo - The Sri Lankan Delegation with members of the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SMCCI)

The Sri Lankan Delegation at the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) with officials of IE Singapore, the SBF and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka