Sri Lankan chambers urge introduction of a Bill of Rights

Sri Lankan’s biggest industrial and trade chambers, in a rare coming-together, on Tuesday urged the Government to introduce a Bill of Rights and said they were, jointly, committed to the nation’s progress.

“We call on the Government to introduce a robust Bill of Rights as part of the on-going reform process to further strengthen the constitutional amendments envisaged,” the joint statement said, adding that, “with the Government committed to a process of reform that aims to establish institutionalised good governance, transparency and law and order, many of the challenges the country has faced in the past will be overcome”.

The statement was issued jointly by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), National Chamber of Commerce NCCSL), National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Sri Lanka chapter, Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) and Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). The statement issued to mark Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, a rare one by all leading chambers, was disbursed to the media by the CCC

No explanation of what the Bill of Rights meant was contained in the statement. According to some international conventions, a bill of rights called a declaration of rights or a charter of rights contains the important rights of the citizens in a country.

Reflecting on the contribution made by the Sri Lanka trade and commerce sections, the chambers said the business community accounts for 61 per cent of all employment in the formal sector, almost 80 per cent of annual investments and helps collect approximately 90 per cent of tax revenue for the Government.

“Thus the private sector has been an inalienable and committed partner in our country’s journey since independence. Going forward, the joint chambers wish to assure the Sri Lankan people that we remain committed to our nation’s progress and prosperity and that we will contribute the skills, capacity and resources at our disposal in a manner befitting a responsible partner,” it said.