From left–  Sujan Perera – Treasurer, Sarath Perera- Vice Chairman, Ruwan Edirisinghe- Senior Vice Chairman, Gamini Gunasekera- Immediate Past Chairman, Tissa Seneviratne- Chairman, Raja Hewabowala- Deputy Chairman, Canisius Fernando Vice Chairman and Kevin Edwards- Vice Chairman)


The Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI) had its 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 23rd October  at Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo.  

The Chief Guest was T M K B Tennakoon, Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce.  Tissa Seneviratne who was holding the office of the Deputy Chairman was elected Chairman– CNCI at the AGM.

Seneviratne is an Engineer by profession.  He has also been graduated in Industrial Studies, followed by a Master of Science Post Graduate Degree from the Open University of Sri Lanka.  He has obtained his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Sabaragamuwa.  A Fellow of the Institution of Incorporated Engineers Sri Lanka and a Member of the Institute of Engineering Technology (UK).  Seneviratne is a Management Representative of the OPA.

The outgoing CNCI Chairman- Gamini Gunasekera, who is the Managing Director of Union Chemicals Lanka PLC addressing the Gathering stated that the Sri Lankan economy recorded a growth of 7.4 percent during 2014, increasing per capita income to US$ 3625. The inflation remained at single digit level for the sixth consecutive year by end 2014. It is interesting to analyze the sectoral performance in GDP of the Services, Industry and Agriculture during the last three years.

The industrial Sector has achieved the highest average growth rate of 10.5 percent while the Service and Agriculture Sectors have maintained 5.8 percent and 3.4 percent respectively. It is obvious that the Industrial Sector plays a major role in our economy and private sector has been recognized as the main contributor for the industrial growth in the country. In order to achieve a GDP growth target of 8.0 percent or higher, Sri Lanka would need to maintain at least investment of 35 percent of GDP. As Public investments are limited to around 6% the balance investment would need to come almost entirely from private investments.

The National Chamber of Industries (CNCI) is of the view that the government should take steps to ensure the protection of viable industries and support them to expand their industries. We made a request to the Government at the budget proposals meeting (2016) chaired by the Hon. Minister of Finance, to allow exchange rate to be determined by the market forces and maintain the present interest rate or if possible further reduce the interest rate. A realistic exchange rate and low interest rate will support manufacturing and rapid export growth.

We requested to maintain a higher tariff rate for the imported finished products than the raw materials imported by the local manufacturers in order to protect the local manufacturer. 

Tissa Seneviratne assuming Chair of the CNCI said that in 2015, a lot of changes took place in Sri Lanka where we elected a new President who got a mandate from people to establish Good Governance.  Although people like fair and just society, it seems very hard for us to get to this path, it is because our administration has got used to lot of different practices twisting of regulations and may other happened, these public see as corrupt practices. I too believe we can’t stop all wrong doers overnight but our will to inculcate good habits in our systems is important.  Practicing rule of law keeping to law and order to the most, as it could set, establish norms needed. Further, with lot of counseling and determination the leader and regulators could change and bring up a life style we all were waited to see. Mostly all our leaders must set an example by leaving foul practices. In many forums we now here statements on need of top to bottom compliance with law and order and all in line following same.