Business Forum 2024

 

The CA Sri Lanka Australia Chapter and the Sri Lanka Australia Chamber of Commerce (SLACC), in
collaboration with the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Australia, jointly hosted the ‘Resilient and
Rising: Leveraging Sri Lanka’s Potential’ business forum at the prestigious Brisbane Club in
Brisbane, Australia, on Thursday, 6 June 2024.

 

The forum, which attracted over 65 in-person and 140 online participants, aimed to promote:
• Sri Lanka as a preferred investment destination;
• Sri Lanka’s sustainable manufacturing practices; and
• The country’s services sector, including the Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) segments.

 

Key speakers of the forum included:

• Her Excellency Chitranganee Wagiswara, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia
• Heshana Kuruppu, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka
• Kalum De Silva, President of the Sri Lanka Australia Chamber of Commerce
• Paul Cooper, Chairman of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre and Manufacturing Queensland
• Duminda Hulangamuwa, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

 

The event was presented by Lalanka Amarasiri, Chair of the Investor and Business Relations Committee of the Chapter, while Ilham Sabry Ahamed, Executive Committee member of the CA Sri Lanka Australia Chapter, moderated the panel discussion. Krishan Kanagarajah, President of the CA Sri Lanka Australia Chapter delivered the vote of thanks.

 

The forum provided a platform for insightful discussions, knowledge sharing and networking, enabling participants to recognise the potential of Sri Lanka’s dynamic business environment. The speakers highlighted the stability and growth momentum of the Sri Lankan economy and emphasized the significant opportunities available for Australian businesses to leverage.

 

The business forum was sponsored by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and Pentagon Australian Runway as the Platinum Sponsors, Future Ascent as the Gold Sponsor and Thisal Accountants as the Associate Sponsor.

 

The business forum was an initiative organized by the Investor and Business Relations Committee of the Chapter in partnership with SLACC. The main objective of the Investor and Business Relations Committee is to promote, develop, foster, and enhance trade and investment between Sri Lanka and Australia, benefiting the wider communities of both Australia and Sri Lanka and strengthening the connection between its members, partners, and the business community. Last year, the Chapter organized its inaugural business forum, “Reignite Sri Lanka 2023,” held at Crown Melbourne, which promoted Sri Lanka as a preferred tourist destination and aimed at enhancing trade and investment between the two countries.

REIGNITE SRI LANKA 2023

‘A Business Forum to enhance the collaboration and strengthen the relationship of Sri Lankan Business Community in Australia, and support Social and Economic recovery of Sri Lanka’.

 

Reignite Sri Lanka 2023 Business Forum, a landmark event aimed at boosting trade, investment and tourism between Australia and Sri Lanka, was held recently at the Crown Promenade, Melbourne. This inaugural initiative organised by the CA Sri Lanka- Australia Chapter in collaboration with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka, was a resounding success.

 

The forum hosted senior officials from over 70 Australian businesses, diplomats, heads of professional bodies and representatives from the media and chambers of commerce. The event was presented by Ms Ilham Sabry Ahamed, who kicked off the evening highlighting that the main aim of the Business Forum was to contribute towards rebuilding the country’s economy, promoting Sri Lanka as a preferred tourist destination and restoring her image across the globe. She also drew attention to the unwavering resilience of Sri Lankans, their warmth and hospitality despite the economic crisis the nation experienced in the recent past.

 

Other distinguished key speakers included Mr. Sandith Samarasinghe, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne and Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

 

Moderated by Mr. Pramitha Ranshika, a panel discussion delved into the importance of injecting foreign exchange into the Sri Lankan economy, the critical role played by the tourism and hospitality industry and the historically significant, symbiotic relationship between tea and tourism. Mr. Malik J Fernando, Director of Dilmah Teas, Mr. Ruwan Karunaratne, Director Finance of Colombo Port City Economic Commission and Ms. Lucy Walgers, Marketing Manager at Trip a Deal, Mr Sanjaya Bandara and Mr Sandith Samarasinghe comprised the panel.

 

The President of the Chapter Mr Anuruddha Dias concluded the event delivering the vote of thanks where he announced that, in collaboration with the Consulate General’s Office the Chapter had instituted an Investor and Business Relations Committee to provide post event coordination and support to the business community.

 

The vibrant and insightful forum paved the way for a high-energy networking session, prompting active engagement and conversation amongst the speakers and attendees. The event’s success was a testament to the commitment of the lead sponsors Dilmah Teas and Trip a Deal along with other associate sponsors and AusLanka TV, the media partner of the evening.

 

The event was organised by the Business Forum Committee of the CA Sri Lanka – Australia Chapter, chaired by Mr Millon Landers. The Reignite Sri Lanka 2023 Business Forum has undoubtedly set a precedent, fostering stronger bilateral relations between Australia and Sri Lanka and illustrating the immense opportunities that lie within the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It heralds the first of many steps towards a future of prosperity and growth for Sri Lanka.