RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO — The Sri Lanka–Benelux Business Council (SLBBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce conducted its 30th Annual General Meeting at the Colombo Club, Taj Hotel recently.
The outgoing President, Wijenayake, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties between Sri Lanka and the Benelux nations. He highlighted the importance of promoting responsible business practices and exploring emerging opportunities in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. He also emphasized the need to organize a long-overdue business promotion mission to the Netherlands, noting that such an initiative would significantly enhance collaboration and investment prospects.
The newly appointed President, Farhath Amith, outlined the Council’s key priorities for strengthening Sri Lanka–Benelux business relations. He highlighted opportunities to expand trade, tourism, investment, and sectoral partnerships across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
He noted the need for support from the Benelux region in extending the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) SME compliance deadline to December 2026, as many Sri Lankan smallholders require more time to meet sustainability standards. He also identified collaboration potential in floriculture and the revival of Sri Lanka’s cocoa industry through investment and technology sharing.
Amith reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to deepening B2B engagement, supporting SMEs, and enhancing bilateral economic cooperation in the year ahead.
Farhath Amith, Director of Fanam International (Pvt) Ltd., was elected as President for the 2025/2026 term. Shaameel Mohideen (Spillburg Holdings (Pvt) Ltd) was appointed as the Senior Vice President and P. M. Abeysekara (Vinu International Trading Company (Pvt) Ltd.) and was appointed Vice Presidents. The Council also elected committee members National Technology Development Corporation Society, Universal Travel Bureau, Thames education Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Euroaqua Link Pvt Ltd and Ningbo Marketing Company Pvt Ltd Sajith Wijenayake from Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd. will serve on the committee as the Immediate Past President.
For further details regarding membership of the Council, please contact the Secretariat of the Sri Lanka – Benelux Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, No. 50, Navam Mawatha, Colombo 2. E-mail: bizpromo@chamber.lk or Tel.: 011 5588829/ 5588800.
New Office Bearers for the year 2025/2026
Seated from left: Sajith Wijenayake, Immediate past president, Nigel Austin, Honorary Member, Ms. Rani Ratnayake, Honorary Member, Farhath Amith, President, P. M. Abeysekara, Vice President, Shameel Mohideen, Senior Vice President, Ms. Pasandi Senara, Secretariat of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Standing left to right (Committee members): Hassen Mashish Hamid, Selvadura Mahendran, Thiruvel Murugan, Hiwin Chandrasekara and DSK Pathirana.
