14 October 2016 12:00 am
The Sri Lanka Retailer’s Association (SLRA) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ceylon Chamber Of Commerce (CCC) recently, which will result in the CCC providing the SLRA with secretarial and other required support towards achieving the association’s objectives and goals.
The MoU was signed by CCC CEO Dhara Wijayatilake and SLRA Chairman Hussain Sadique on-behalf of the respective parties.
The SLRA was incorporated during June 2016, as a company limited by guarantee. The association’s objective is to harness the resources of the organised retail industry to a common platform to promote and facilitate futuristic innovation, growth and global outreach.
The founder stakeholder members of the association currently include prominent retailers such as Abans, Bata Shoe Company, Cargill’s Foods Company, Cool Planet, Cotton Collection, Ceylon Leather products DI, DSI, Damro, Healthguard Pharmacy Ltd, Fashion Bug, Kandy Selection, Keells Super, Laugfs Supermarkets, Mydeal.lk, No Limit, Singer Sri Lanka, Swarnamahal Jewellers, Softlogic Retail, Thilakawardhana Textiles and Hameedia as the lead convener.
The SLRA currently represents nine retail sectors which are: FMCG, clothing, fashion and jewellery, shelter and housing household and consumer durables, footwear and accessories, e-commerce, mobility, entertainment and healthcare and wellness.
“The SLRA hopes to engage with retailers in multiple formats to further increase and scale its membership. Our aim is to improve the standards of retailing in the country by being inclusive in our approach,” said Sadique.
He further said, “We expect to give leadership and the much-needed focus, thus the ultimate vision of the country, to make Sri Lanka a retail hub will be realized.”
The SLRA Executive Committee comprising Sidath Kodikara, Murali Prakash, Infiyaz Ali, Charitha Subasinghe, Dinesh Perera and Ajith Amarasekera, were also present for the MoU signing ceremony. SLRA Retailers Connect Leonard Michael Perera and CCC Deputy Secretary General Alikie Perera witnessed the signing of the MoU.
The CCC will play the role of the secretariat and immediate contact point for the SLRA.
The retail industry is inviting retailers to enrol as members of the association.