Standing from left: Manjula Maldeniya, Dumi Peiris, Buddhi Weerasekara, Harshani Santiago. Seated from left: Erandi Dinusha (Secretary), Oshadi Kodisinghe, Gillian Nugara (Chairperson), Manori Dissanayake, Satheesha Rajalingam


The Young Members forum (YMF) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the year 2016 recently, which saw the appointment of a new committee, which will spearhead its operations during this year.

The CCC, the country’s premier business chamber, has formed the YMF, in a bid to identify, engage and develop the next generation of Sri Lankan leaders by providing an inspirational growth opportunity for them through various strategically driven programmes.

Currently the YMF has a significant number of members consisting of youngsters such as corporate executives, entrepreneurs and also students. Under the new plans of enhancing the forum, the CCC intends to increase the number of programmes carried out towards shaping up its members to learn new skills, build new contacts and explore opportunities to help them become the ‘next generation leaders’.

The YMF conducted and facilitated many activities in 2015, helping its members to get involved and engaged in. Some of the activities organised by the YMF during the concluded year rank, visits made to the Colombo port and Colombo Dockyard, conducting a Tag rugby tournament, outdoor activity and adventure-based team building exercises, Fire & Ice member’s night, celebrating of the international women’s day and Toastmaster speech craft programme etc.

The main initiative, the YMF undertook during the concluded year was the job and entrepreneurship fair, which was held under the title ‘Careerlead’, and conducted at the Ruhuna University with the participation of over 40 private firms, who interviewed nearly 2500 undergraduates, who came from universities from across the country.

The YMF also initiated a series of sessions in ‘employability skills development’ for young school students as well as undergraduates across the country during last year.