Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council see 2025 challenges as new opportunities

The Sri Lanka – Malaysia Business Council was inaugurated on 23 February, 1994 under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Board of investment of Sri Lanka. The main objective of this council is to promote joint ventures in trade, tourism and services between Sri Lanka and Malaysia. In accordance with the constitution, High Commissioner of Malaysia in Sri Lanka Badli Hisham Adam, is the Patron of the Council. 

2024 was a successful year for the Sri Lanka-Malaysia Business Council (SLMBC) where key delegation led by M.H.K.M Hameez with Marshad Barry and members of the council visited Malaysia to enhanced networking opportunities and mutual growth for SLMBC member business and met leading organisation in Malaysia. 

Marshad Barry (Amana Bank PLC) was appointed as the President at the 30th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council (SLMBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was held at the Union Ballroom, Hilton Residence, Colombo on August 2024 and SLMBC actively involved in many productive projects in line with strengthening the membership targeting a growth of 30% membership in the year 2024-2025. Also first ever time the Council extended the membership to the Malaysian Business entities under International membership. Council also held discussion with the Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce Industry (KLSICCI) in councils new initiative of extending the SLMBC International membership to Malaysian Companies, also council could nominate few business ventures and leading CEO’s from Malaysia for the Global CEO Awards held in Sri Lanka. KLSICCI Honorary Secretary General Mogana Chinnathamby was one such recipient of the Global CEO Award along with Johnson Francis of Oscar Holidays. 

SLMBC conducted youth entrepreneurship Seminar on the theme “Future Me” in Colombo and one in Ratnapura under the theme “Empowering youth through innovation and entrepreneurship for sustainable economic growth “with Interact movement, where over 500 youth were participated at the event. Year 2024 was ended with a CSR project demonstrating council’s commitment to social responsibility by donating essential clothing to orphaned children at the Vijira Sri Boys Children Development Centre in Pita Kotte in the presence of Sri Jayawardanapura Vajira Sri Children Development Centre Executive Director Ven. Dr. Hunupolgama Vajira Sri Nayake Thero. 

SLMBC President Marshad Barry said, “ Our Council see the 2025 Challenges as opportunities and as per our vision to promote Malaysian Investments to Sri Lanka and developing trade links between the two countries to support the Government of Sri Lanka and economic growth of the Country”. Also SLMBC is planning to have a Women Entrepreneurship and Networking evening, Members day, Golf Tournament, Couple of webinars on selected sectors to enhance the knowledge from expertise from both countries also receive a high delegation from Malaysia to Sri Lanka to explore new investment opportunities in year 2025.