Paying a glowing tribute to the local business community, the chief guest at the 178th AGM of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Nepali billionaire, Dr. Binod Chaudhry said that he was inspired by the tough lessons taught by Sri Lankans in his earlier visits.
“My earlier journey to Sri Lanka has taught me how Sri Lankans faced the difficult times. I have great respect for Sri Lankan leadership, in particular the corporate leadership. I am a firm believer in the fundamentals of Sri Lanka. It has proved the test of time. The integrity displayed by the Sri Lankan business community is at a high level and always satisfactory,” he said.
Sri Lanka has the distinction of a US $ 100 billion economy and growing per capita income. The constitutional framework which paves the way for elections has kept the country in a good shape, he said.
“Today it is all about technology and we live in a highly connected world. The time when capital was a constraint has gone. Today is a world of technological connectivity. You need to believe in yourself.
Outgoing Chairman Samantha Ranatunga said that what the Chamber seeks from the government is a true partnership. The private sector always strives to build a bridge of trust with the government leaving room for dialog and healthy debate. Let us use this as a connection for a brighter future, where we continue to build mutual confidence.
“We had many engagements with the policy makers during the last 2 years where we articulated the Chamber position. We won some, but we lost more. However, in true Chamber spirit, we always put the country first more than narrow industry specific initiatives. This is clear from the positions we have taken on taxation and trade agreements. We have taken on true country priorities and tried to bring them to the national or international platform,” he said. “Our chief guest Dr. Binod Chaudhry has the business confidence as he has been investing in Sri Lanka from the year 2000, even while the war was at its peak. The belief in economic fundamentals and industry view should guide one, more than newspaper headlines,” he said.