Ceylon Chamber’s SLANZ Business Council holds 22nd AGM
The Sri Lanka – Australia – New Zealand Business Council (SLANZBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently held its 22nd annual general meeting (AGM) at Movenpick Hotel in Colombo, electing Qantas Airways Ltd Director/general Manager Gerard Victoria as President of the council.
Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Bryce Hutchesson and New Zealand Honorary Consul in Colombo Senaka Silva graced the occasion as the chief guests while Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Wellington, New Zealand Aruna Abeygoonesekara attended as the guest of honour.
Addressing the gathering, Hutchesson underscored the recent visit of Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and expressed the importance of her meeting with the Sri Lankan president, prime minister and her local counterpart.
He also noted that Australian Monash University has partnered with Sri Lankan Health Ministry to combat dengue fever, in addition to funding a World Health Organisation programme dealing with the current crisis.
Newly elected SLANZBC President Gerard Victoria in his address thanked the outgoing President Manjula Lanerolle and his committee for their outstanding service.
Lanerolle from Glolan International noted, “SLANZ Business Council is steadily focusing towards developing a clearer position on trade and investment between Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand via relevant stakeholders of the three states. This is especially important at a time when Sri Lanka is aiming to become a regional and global hub for trade and industry and is vying to attract big global brands and headquarters of international firms.”
Lanerolle will serve as Immediate Past President of the council. Ruwan Rajapakse, Ramya Weerakoon, Nuwan Wimalana and Delano Dias were appointed as Vice Presidents.
Several companies were elected to serve in the SLANZBC committee for the upcoming year 2017 – 2018 including 99X Technology, Abans (Pvt.) Ltd, AGXINTL (Pvt.) Ltd, Atlas Axillia Co. (Pvt.) Ltd, Dart Global Logistics Ltd, Eduko Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd), Fonterra Brands Lanka, Infotechs Ltd, Jiffy Products SL (Pvt.) Ltd, John Keells Holdings PLC, Microcells (Pvt.) Ltd, Millers Limited of Cargills Group, Taprobane Seafoods (Pvt.) Ltd and Westmann Engineering Co. Ltd.