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The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) the premier chamber set up in Sri Lanka way back in 1839, which has developed today into a strong confederation of regional and sectoral chambers of commerce and industry, trade associations, employer organizations and bilateral business councils, has granted affiliated membership to the Business for Peace Alliance (BPA).

The BPA, Sri Lanka’s regional business network for regional empowerment, conflict transformation and Corporate Social Responsibility was established five years ago by the regional chambers throughout Sri Lanka. The BPA is a “bottom up initiative”, owned and managed exclusively by the regional business community. The BPA, which operated informally over the last four years, was institutionalised in September 2006 and set up a Secretariat in Colombo to co-ordinate its activities in all parts of the island.

“The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has been associating closely with BPA since its inception and we have collaborated with BPA in organising some important joint projects. These projects have had a significant impact. The BPA has also been represented in some of the CCC’s sub committees including the Peace and Reconciliation sub committee and the Public Awareness sub committee,” Ceylon Chamber Chairman Mahen Dayananda said.

“Since the BPA has institutionalised itself, we felt that it was fitting that CCC should also formalize its association with BPA by granting affiliated membership to BPA in the CCC,” he added.

Dayananda commended BPA initiatives to network the business community throughout the country, which led to building business linkages and fostering of peace and reconciliation.

He said that the CCC placed importance on addressing the current initiatives connected with the process of peace and reconciliation and BPA’s efforts at regional level complemented the efforts of the CCC in this context.

“The CCC is also collaborating with the BPA in promoting the practice of CSR in the regions. We are working towards the development of the millennium development goals. The BPA is partnering us to create awareness in this regard and implement CSR strategies in the regions,” said Dayananda.

BPA Chairman H Wijeyanandana hailed the formalization of the collaboration between BPA and CCC.

“Our network now comprises twenty five (25) regional business chambers in all the provinces in Sri Lanka. The membership of two of these chambers is made up exclusively of women in business,” he said
Mr Wijeyanandana went on to say that there is tremendous marginalization of the regional business community. The traditional “Colombo centric approach” has not been a successful model for economic growth and national development.

“The bulk of the raw materials and the bulk of production are done in the regions. However, most decisions affecting the regions are made in Colombo without consulting the regions that are affected,” Mr. Wijeyanandana added.

“Through BPA, we the regional business community are developing our leadership skills and business skills. Many issues affecting the regions are common, whether they emanate from the North, South or other parts. Through BPA we address common issues and communicate the voice of the regions to policy makers in Colombo,” he explained.

“We want to preserve our regional identity and dignity. However, we cannot function in isolation. We have much to learn from the big business in Colombo. We also have much to share by way of providing inputs from the regions and also providing support to implement projects in the regions,” the BPA chief said.

Wijeyanandana said that the formal affiliation to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which was a highly experienced and respected chamber not just in Sri Lanka but in the entire world, was a major step forward for BPA.

“We look forward to collaborating further with the eminent business leaders in the CCC in our efforts to promote peace and prosperity in Sri Lanka,” said Wijeyanandana.