The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) held its 24th Annual General Meeting at Westminster House on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. The event marked a significant milestone with engaging discussions and a seamless transition in leadership.
Mark Surgenor, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Sri Lanka & Maldives, has been elected as the new President of the CBB for the 2024-2025 term. In his address, he emphasized the CBB’s historical significance and its role in fostering strong trade relations between the UK and Sri Lanka. “Sri Lanka exports approximately a billion dollars’ worth of goods to the UK each year, with one-third in apparel and two-thirds in other sectors,” Surgenor noted. He underscored the importance of leveraging the DCTS for more cost-effective trade opportunities.
Outgoing President Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny reflected on her tenure, addressing the challenges Sri Lanka has faced over the past two years. “Through our collective efforts, we have achieved stability. The CBB has demonstrated resilience and commitment, especially in recognizing the crucial role SMEs play in driving economic growth,” she stated. Tania highlighted the CBB’s numerous SME forums and knowledge-sharing sessions, including those on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) and strategies to strengthen exports to Great Britain.
His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner, expressed optimism about the future trade relationship between the UK and Sri Lanka. “The new UK government is prioritizing growth and partnership, which bodes well for our trade relations,” he remarked. He encouraged continued collaboration and welcomed innovative ideas to expand the trade relationship.
Incoming President, Mark Surgenor and His Excellency Andrew Patrick, commended Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny for her dedication and significant contributions to the CBB, acknowledging her pivotal role in advancing the organization.
The 2024/2025 Executive Committee includes, as the Vice Presidents, Mr. Shiluka Goonewardene, Principal – Head of Deal Advisory and Deputy Head of Markets at KPMG Sri Lanka, and Ms. Ameena Ziauddin, Managing Director at Norfolk Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Mr Fadhil Jiffry will take over as the Treasurer. The Committee members for the period include representatives from Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Global Market Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, Hayleys Advantis Limited, Hilton Colombo Residence, Hirdaramani Group, John Keells Holdings PLC, MAS Holdings, and Unilever Sri Lanka.
Special invitees to the committee include Mr. Irfan Thassim, Founder of Oceanpick Pvt Ltd; Mr. Derek Mansfield, Director/Plant Manager at De La Rue; Mr. Sanath Manutunga, CEO of Commercial Bank; Mr. Dougie Douglas, Founder & Principal Consultant at Point to Point Consulting; Ms. Hannah Wells, Principal at The British School in Colombo; and several key representatives from the British High Commission and British Council.
Mr. Shirendra Lawrence (MAS Holdings) and Ms. Roshanie Moraes (Link Natural Products) have been appointed to the Advisory Committee to ensure the continuity of the CBB’s initiatives.
For more information on membership or CBB activities, please contact the CBB Secretariat at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce via email at [email protected] or by phone at 011-5588861 or 5588800. Visit our website at www.cbbsl.com and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CBBSriLanka/ and Twitter @CBB_SL.
