SL-France Business Council holds 21st AGM

SLFBC Committee 25/26

The Sri Lanka-France Business Council (SLFBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently, with Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka Rémi Lambert, the patron of the council, in attendance as the chief guest. 

MAC Group Chairman Andre Fernando was re-elected as President of the council. He will be supported by Jonathan Suppiah of Inter Air Sea and Logistics (Pvt.) Ltd, as Senior Vice President and Shaameel Mohideen of Spillburg Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd, as Vice President. The council’s Committee Members for the year include representatives from Puritas (Pvt.) Ltd, Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC, Mack Air (Pvt.) Ltd, Noyon Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd and CEVA Logistics.

In his address, Fernando highlighted tourism and investment as two strategic avenues through which the council is working to deepen engagement between the two nations. He shared that discussions are ongoing to bring a well-known French sports personality to Sri Lanka to assist with tourism promotion, supported by exposure across French media platforms. 

On the investment front, he noted that the council is in talks to attract France-based investors operating in India to explore opportunities for expansion into Sri Lanka. These initiatives are part of the groundwork laid over the past year, with the aim of achieving positive outcomes in the medium to long term.

Lambert’s address focused on his diplomatic vision, with the three key pillars of economic collaboration, maritime, logistics and aviation and tourism guiding France-Sri Lanka cooperation.

He highlighted the ongoing support provided through the Regional Maritime Training Centre, which trains Sri Lankan coastguards, customs and officials on matters of maritime safety and security – with the aim of developing Sri Lanka as a logistics hub in the Indian Ocean.