24 November 2016 12:00 am
From left: Saman Kumara, Ruwan Waidyaratne, Mahen Dayananda, Tilak de Zoysa, Daya Weththasinghe, Kenichi Suganuma, Sarath de Costa, Julianne Boulton, Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya, Tissa Jayaweera, Merrick Gooneratne and Mahen Kariyawasan
“Japan is one of Sri Lanka’s closest friends with a relationship that has prevailed for centuries and has stood the test of time amidst changing international and domestic political circumstances. In recent years Sri Lanka’s economic partnership with Japan has developed extending beyond trade and tourism,” said Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka-Japan Business Co-operation Committee (SLJBCC) President Daya Weththasinghe, at the SLJBCC Annual General Meeting held recently.
“What needs to be done now is to take persistent efforts to market both our nations together as ‘partners in progresses’. Our two countries can strategically co-operate in areas such as bilateral trade, tourism and economic partnerships,” he added.
Japanese Ambassador Kenichi Suganuma graced the occasion as the chief guest.
The Committee elected for the 2016-2017 period: President: Globe Group of Companies Chairman Daya Weththasinghe. Advisors: AMW Capital Leasing and Finance PLC Chairman Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa and Desamanya P.D. Rodrigo. Vice Presidents: Indo Asia Teas (Pvt.) Ltd Chairman Mahen Dayananda, Advanced International Management Services (Pvt.) Ltd Chairman/CEO Tissa Jayaweera, Amano Lanka Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd Managing Director C.S.W. de Costa, Midaya Ceramic Company Ltd Chairman/Managing Director Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya and TOS Lanka Co. (Pvt.) Ltd Executive Director Merrik Gooneratne. Committee Members: hSenid Software International (Pvt.) Ltd Chief Executive Officer Dinesh Saparamadu, Hayleys Advantis Ltd Managing Director Ruwan Waidyaratne, Andrew the Travel Company Managing Director Mahen Kariyawasan and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Secretariat Julianne Boulton.
Addressing the gathering, re-elected President Daya Weththasinghe stated, “Trade between our two countries have increased rapidly during the last couple of years. A free trade agreement between the two counties will open up the vast Japanese market to Sri Lankan exporters. Sri Lanka is now gearing itself to leap forward in economic integration with the rest of the world and Japan would be an important partner in this endeavour.”