The Sri Lanka- Singapore Business Council (SLSBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce successfully concluded a business mission to Singapore from 8th – 10th November 2017.

The mission was organized in collaboration with the International Enterprise (IE) Singapore; the Government Agency driving Singapore’s external economy and promoting the overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises and international trade, supported by Singapore Business Federation (SBF); the Apex Business Chamber in Singapore with over 18,000 members and in association with the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore.

In the backdrop of the impending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Singapore, there was augmented interest from companies to participate. The twenty six member delegation led by the SLSBC Vice President Mr. Rohitha Mendis, Managing Director – Prudential Shipping Lines (Pvt) Ltd resulted in an extremely productive visit to Singapore. The delegation comprised Mr. Ranga Soysa, Managing Director – Ariel Leisure (Pvt) Ltd, Ms. Niduk Perera, Director - Ariel Leisure (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Prajeeth Balasubramaniam, General Partner/ Managing Director – BOVCapital Ltd, Mr. Tushan Wickramasinghe, Chairman/ CEO – Capital TRUST Holdings Limited, Ms. Minoli Wickramasinghe, Managing Director - Capital TRUST Properties (Pvt) Limited, Mr. Suhayl Sangani, Assistant General Manager – Ceylon Jewellery Manufacurers (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Sriyal Dissanayake, Managing Director – Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd, Mr. Mohan Perera, Chairman – GMT Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Shiluka Goonewardene, Principal – KPMG, Dr. U.K.M Ismail, CEO – Lloyds Auto Mart (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. M. I. A. Imraan, Director - Lloyds Auto Mart (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Andre Fernando, Chairman / Managing Director – MAC Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Tilak Gunawardana, Chief Financial Officer - MAC Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Ranga Goonawardena, Director / CEO – Macksons Properties (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. A. Samson de Silva, Managing Director – S.S Impex (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. S. Shah Jahan, Chief Executive Officer – Taipan Trading Company, Mr. Ahmed Zaharan, Executive Director – Business Development – Tridel Development (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Sajad Ghaffoor, Associate – Business Development - Tridel Development (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Jurian Druvi Ondaatje, Director/CEO – Vingrows Business Solutions Pvt Ltd, Mr. Visva Prathirajage, Head of Strategy and Planning - Vingrows Business Solutions Pvt Ltd and Mr. Joe Lenora, Managing Director – WAD International (Pvt) Ltd. The mission was co-ordinated by Ms. Rasangika De Silva and Ms. Julianne Boulton of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The event was attended by close to 100 participants from over 70 well established Singapore companies including Amara Holdings Limited a key player in hotels, properties, specialty restaurants and food services, Banyan Trees Hotel and Resorts, one of the world’s leading international operators in the hospitality and spa industry, The SingEx group comprising of four closely linked companies that collectively provide a comprehensive range of integrated solutions for venue management and consultancy, exhibition and conference organizing services and international exhibition related ventures, Falcon Incorporation, a premier interior fit-out specialist and integrated furniture manufacturer of quality mid to high-end contract and home furniture, App Systems, providing high technology products and critical services for semiconductor, plasma, thin films, vacuum, cryogenic, thermal and bioscience related technologies, Sembcorp Industries, a leading energy, water, marine and urban development group operating across five continents worldwide, to name a few.

The opening remarks were made by H.E. the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Singapore, Mr. Nimal Weeraratne. Mr. Prasanjith Wijayatilake, Executive Director of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka in his speech mentioned the significant and attractive opportunities available for investment in Sri Lanka. Stax did a presentation on available business opportunities in Sri Lanka while Mr. Shiluka Goonewardene of KPMG presented on the tax and legal framework of Sri Lanka.

Addressing the gathering Mr. Rohitha Mendis, Vice 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.

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 officials of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and clarify matters relating to potential investments.

The Delegation also participated in a series of meetings at the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) which provided them an opportunity to network with the senior officials and members.
The Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Singapore Mr. Nimal Weeraratne, supported by Ms. Nalika Kodikara, First Secretary (Commercial) hosted the members of the delegation for a networking session with Singaporean companies interested in exploring business opportunities during the mission.