About US – The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SRI LANKA (NCCSL)

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) was founded in 1948 soon after Sri Lanka gained independence from British colonial rule, primarily to establish a forum for the Sri Lankan business community. The foremost objective of the Chamber at that time was the Ceylonisation of trade, as the policy climate was not quite conducive to national interests. The Founder Members comprised of all leading ethnic groups, Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and Burgher. In 1955, the Chamber was formally incorporated as a Company Limited.

Having achieved its foremost objective in the mid fifties, the Chamber turned to address member issues faced by members.

During the last six decades the Chamber had emerged as the leading trade and industrial promotion body in the island. The Chamber is the focal point for member companies representing virtually the entire spectrum of industry, trade and commerce in Sri Lanka. Among them the Chamber counts some of the most vibrant and progressive business houses in the country.

The National Chamber, in its preparation for the future has identified steps to develop entrepreneurs and SME’s in several key industries in Sri Lanka.

Value additions to the product and product life cycles in several sectors.
Maintaining focus on core businesses to gain success.
Provide members with qualitative information on businesses, products and markets.
Identifying how well the Chamber could assist different enterprises.
Providing SME’s with Financial Assistance to boost productivity and increase the
employment rate where there are no mortgage requirements.
Maintaining focus on the growth of the GDP.
Providing technical training and assisting technology transfer

Vision

The Vision of National Chamber is to be the leading source of services and assistance to businesses countrywide for promotion of domestic and foreign trade with special emphasis on the development of SMEs

Mission

The Mission is to provide trade promotion services and assistance required by businesses to function competitively in domestic and overseas markets and to represent them in matters of common and individual interest at all fora including discussions and deliberations convened by the government

The Mission is to be achieved primarily through enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of firms countrywide and strengthening the dialogue with the government to assist in creating a conducive business environment

Past presidents details

Sir Wilfred De Soysa 1951 – 1952 Wilfred & Co. Ltd.

Mr. Robert Parakrama Senanayake 1952 – 1955 Freudenberg & Co. (Ceylon) Ltd.

Sir Cyril De Zoysa 1955 – 1957 The South Western O’bus Co. Ltd.

Mr. Faleel Abdul Caffoor 1957 – 1958 N D H Abdul Caffoor Ltd.

Mr. J L M Fernando 1958 – 1960 & 1961 - 1966 Air Ceylon

Senator Justin Kotalawala 1960 – 1961 Ceylon Insurance Co.

Mr. D L F Pedris 1966 – 1970 William Pedris & Co. Ltd.

Mr. H R Fernando 1970 – 1971 & 1972 – 1977 H R Fernando & Co.

Mr. Roland Wanigatunga 1971 – 1972 R Wanigatunga & Co.

Mr. A D E de S Wijeyeratne 1977 – 1982 A D E de S Wijeyeratne Company

Mr. J A Leembruggen 1982 – 1983 Smith Klein Beecham Mackwoods Ltd.

Mr. G S Chatoor 1983 – 1985 Saboor Chatoor (Pvt) Ltd.

Mr. M Manoharan 1985 – 1987 Manoharan & Sangakkara Chartered Accountants

Mr. H S De Silva 1987 – 1988 Shermon Sons Ltd.

Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya 1988 – 1990 C.W. Mackie PLC

Mr. L L Samarasinghe 1990 – 1992 Mackwoods Ltd.

Mr. Muni Kundanmal 1992 – 1994 Kundanmals Ltd.

Major Douglas L Wijesinha 1994 – 1995 Grip Engineering (Pte) Ltd.

Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa 1995 – 1996 Associated Motorways (Private) Limited

Mr. Hari Selvanathan 1998 – 2000 Sri Krishna Corporation Ltd.

Dr. Chandra J Embuldeniya 2000 – 2002 Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka

Mr. Asoka de Z Gunasekera 2002 – 2005 IWS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.

Ms. Nirmali Samaratunga 2005 – 2007 Mackwoods Group

Mr. D Eassuweran 2007 – 2009 Eswaran Brothers Exports (Pvt) Ltd.

Mr. Chandra Lal de Alwis 2009 – 2011 CAL Exports Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

Mr. Asoka Hettigoda 2011 – 2013 Hettigoda Industries (Pvt) Ltd.

Mr. Sunil G. Wijesinha 2013 – 2015 Siyapatha Finance Limited

Mr. Thilak Godamanna 2015 – 2017 Ninehearts Group of Companies

Mr. Sujeeve Samaraweera 2017 – 2019 Atlas Logistics Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

Future Plans

The National Chamber, in its preparation for the future has identified steps to develop entrepreneurs and SME’s in several key industries in Sri Lanka.

Value additions to the product and product life cycles in several sectors.
Maintaining focus on core businesses to gain success.
Provide members with qualitative information on businesses, products and markets.
Identifying how well the Chamber could assist different enterprises.
Providing SME’s with Financial Assistance to boost productivity and increase the employment rate where there are no mortgage requirements.
Maintaining focus on the growth of the GDP.
Providing technical training and assisting technology transfer