Mrs. Nirmali Samaratunga re-elected as Chairperson for year 2010/2011 at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka
The 13th Annual General Meeting of the Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka was held on the 29th of July 2010 at the California Grill, Hotel Galadari. The Association, which aims at promoting and protecting the interests of the members, as well as the Sector as a whole, thereby contributing to the economic growth of Sri Lanka, through strong export performance.
The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) affiliated to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, was inaugurated in 1997 with the merger of the Federation of Exporters Association of Sri Lanka, and the Export Section of the CCC. The formation of the Exporters Association of Sri Lanka, brought a wide spectrum of Exporters under a strong platform to discuss, exchange views and make representation on key issues affecting the Sector, with one voice, as well as participate in the policy making and direction of the Export Sector in the country, at a national level, through a close dialogue with the Government.
Deputy Finance Minister, Hon (Dr.) Sarath Amunugama, who was the Key note speaker at the event, mentioned in his address to the gathering that the recovery of the global economy and the end of the war in Sri Lanka provided a good opportunity to the exporters to lead in every sector and the country is already showing signs of recovery. He also stated that the government would like to see the export sector in the country lead their respective areas showing greater growth in overtaking US$ 1 billion trade value. Minister of Industries and Commerce Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, who was the chief guest at the AGM, said that over the past four months the country’s exports have reached US$ 2.7 million with only the garment exports showing a decline of 10% and that 1,000 exporting companies were contributing to 80% of the country’s exports.
Mrs. Nirmali Samaratunga, Co-Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Mackwoods Ltd was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Association for the year 2010-2011. She said that political stability in the country was a welcome sign for greater economic development. She also mentioned that the association would like to welcome the recent decisions of the government to make adjustments to its policy especially through the recent budget. The decision to set up an Exim Bank for the export and import trade is a long felt need.
Mrs. Dawn Austin, Managing Director, Nidro IT Solutions and also the Vice President of the Sri Lanka Fruit & Vegetable Producers, Processors and Exporters Association and Mr. Rohan Daluwatte, Manager, Operations & Logistics, Tea Tang Ltd were appointed as 1st Vice Chairperson and 2nd Vice Chairman respectively.
The following Company members were elected on to the Managing Committee of the Exporters’ Association, Year 2010/2011 :
01 | Ansell Lanka (Pvt) Ltd | Mr. I. L. M. Hamthoon & Mr. Nilupa Etipola |
02 | Aitken Spence Exports Ltd | Mr. Danesha Perera & Mr. S. Sridharan |
03 | Akbar Brothers Ltd | Mr. T. Sambasivam |
04 | AF Jones (Exporters) Ceylon Ltd | Mr. Kapila Wijegunawardena & Mr. Quintin Dissanayake |
05 | Gordon Frazer & Company Limited | Mr. Sunil Karunanayake & Mr. Michael J de Zoysa |
06 | CAL Exports Lanka (Pvt) Ltd | Mr. M Nazvi Hassan & Mr. Jayantha de Mel |
07 | Finlays Colombo PLC | Mr. Samantha Weerakoon |
08 | Gem Syndicate | Mr. M.F.A.Cader & Mr. Ahmed H. Cader |
09 | Hayleys PLC | Mr. Chrisso De Mel & Mr. Nalaka Rathnayake |
10 | Intercom Limited | Mr. B. Sarada M. De Silva & Alt : Ms. B. Yeshani S. De Silva |
11 | Mackwoods Ltd | Mrs. Nirmali Samaratunga |
12 | Microcells Ltd | Mr. Anil Wickremaratne & Alt: Mr. Induka Kalutiiantrige |
13 | Shums & Co | Mr. Talal Shums |
14 | Tea Tang Ltd | Mr. Rohan Daluwatte & Mr. Yohan Benedict |
15 | Union Commodities (Pvt) Ltd | Mrs. A. de S. Weerasooria & Mr. Dinesh de Silva |
Associations, Year 2010/2011 :
01 | Sri Lanka Fruit & Vegetable Producers, Processors & Exporters Association | Mrs. Dawn Austin & Mr. Zuraish Hashim |
02 | Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association | Mr. Aziz Rumy |
03 | Colombo Rubber Traders’ Association | Mr. Ranjith Siriwardena |
04 | Spices & Allied Products Producers Association | Mr. Vernon Abeyratne |
05 | Colombo Tea Traders’ Association | Mr. Birendra Perera |
06 | Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers & Exporters of Rubber Products | Mr. Saifuddin Jafferjee |
07 | Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association | Mr. Ali Suhail |
08 | Seafood Exporters Association of Sri Lanka | Mr. Prabash Subasinghe |
09 | Floriculture Produce Exporters Association | Mr. Sanath Manuwendra |
10 | Sri Lanka Diamond Manufacturers Association | Mr. Riyaz Sangani |
Past Chairmen:
Mr. G. S. Chatoor
Mr. A. S. M. Muzzammil
Mr. Mohan Mendis
Mr. Deepal Chandrasekera
Membership of the Association is open to any member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce engaged in or interested in export, or any properly constituted and functioning Association representing exporters of products and services and any member of such an Association.
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