Ceylon National Chamber of Industries Chairman Kevin Edwards

Kevin Edwards, Chairman of the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI), the premier industrial Chamber in the country, together with the members of the management and executive committee and its members, congratulates His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake on being elected as the ninth President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Edwards mentioned that the local industries at present are experiencing unprecedented hardships due to the prevailing socioeconomic situation in the country. It has created a situation in which most of the local industries may not be able to survive in the short term, which could lead to loss of employment, both direct and indirect and have a detrimental impact on the economy. It is imperative to develop supportive macroeconomic policies within an unbiased framework to overcome this situation. 

Edwards, while endorsing the core policies outlined in the NPP manifesto, ‘A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life’, expressed his appreciation to His Excellency for his initiative to identify the need for a comprehensive short and long-term industrial development plan to enhance local production and transition to an export-driven economy to navigate the current economic crisis successfully. Also, he expressed that the CNCI is fully hopeful that the new leadership will lead to a new era in the industrial sector of the country.  

The CNCI is confident that the newly elected president will focus mainly on protecting all local manufactures by bring in ‘Product Specific Standards’ and protective import tariffs, when such finished goods are imported in to Sri Lanka and recognise these manufactures for the foreign currency they have saved to the nation.   

Edwards finally affirmed that the chamber is ready to extend its fullest cooperation to the president in his dedicated service to the nation to achieve its economic and social development objectives, to make Sri Lanka a great country to live in for all, in peace and harmony as proud Sri Lankans being one nation, one county.