{"id":7293,"date":"2026-09-11T05:37:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T00:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/economictimes.lk\/?p=7293"},"modified":"2026-09-11T05:37:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T00:07:55","slug":"sri-lanka-japan-business-council-of-the-ceylon-chamber-of-commerce-holds-47th-agm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/economictimes.lk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/11\/sri-lanka-japan-business-council-of-the-ceylon-chamber-of-commerce-holds-47th-agm\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka \u2013 Japan Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce holds 47th AGM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Sri Lanka \u2013 Japan  Business<\/a> Council (SLJBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently held its 47th AGM, with the Ambassador of Japan and the Patron of the Council, Akio ISOMATA, attending as the Chief Guest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador ISOMATA outlined three priorities for deepening bilateral economic relations: an effective and forward-looking trade and investment policy, the promotion of domestic industrial policy and expanded investment in renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that Sri Lanka\u2019s ongoing review of its Free Trade Agreement policy would be important in shaping the country\u2019s future negotiating landscape. He encouraged Sri Lanka to look Eastward toward Southeast Asia and Japan, proposing that the country adopt an export-oriented industrial model. The Ambassador welcomed the Government\u2019s National Export Development Plan 2026 and National Mineral Policy 2026 as consistent with Japan\u2019s vision of connecting Sri Lanka\u2019s export-related manufacturing sectors with India\u2019s high-growth manufacturing base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his address, President Athulla R F Edirisinghe reflected on nearly seven decades of humanitarian and development support extended by Japan to Sri Lanka, and paid tribute to the Chairman of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation Yohei Sasakawa, for his magnanimity in establishing the Foundation. Reflecting on the history of Japanese investment in the region from the 1970s onward, he observed that Sri Lanka had missed many opportunities to attract Japanese foreign direct investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlighting the 2025 proposal for a Sri Lanka \u2013 Japan Economic Corridor by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry Japan, he called on Sri Lankan businesses, industry associations, and the wider community to come together in dialogue with the Government to ensure the country does not miss this opportunity as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026\/27 Committee: President: Athulla R F Edirisinghe Director, Hirohama Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd, Senior Vice President \u2013 Ruwan Waidyaratne Managing Director, Hayleys Advantis Ltd, Vice President \u2013  Shamil Mendis Managing Director, Spear International (Pvt) Ltd, Treasurer \u2013 Rohitha Mendis \u2013 Managing Director of Prudential Shipping Lines (Pte) Ltd, Immediate Past President \u2013 Mahen Kariyawasan \u2013 Managing Director, Andrew The Travel Company (Pvt) Ltd, representatives from Amano Lanka Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, BOV Capital (Pvt) Ltd, Brandix Apparel (Pvt) Ltd, Heritage Teas (Pvt) Ltd, Kalhari Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, Lanka Harness (Pvt) Ltd, Dentsu Grant (Pvt) Ltd, MAC Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, and Vidullanka PLC. By invitation: HVA Foods PLC (subsidiary of George Steuart & Co), Spillburg Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, and Vaughan Chemicals (Pvt) Ltd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sri Lanka \u2013 Japan Business Council plays an important role in promoting trade, tourism, and investments between Japan and Sri Lanka. For membership inquiries contact Kiyara at The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce via E-mail: businesscouncils1@chamber.lk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source : Daily News <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Sri Lanka \u2013 Japan  Business Council (SLJBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently held its…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t