The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its 26th Annual General Meeting at Westminster House, Colombo, bringing together members and stakeholders committed to strengthening trade and investment relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Ameena Ziauddin, Managing Director of Norfolk Foods, was elected President of the Council for Business with Britain for the 2026–2027 term. Mr. Shiluka Goonewardene, Principal and Head of Deal Advisory at KPMG in Sri Lanka, assumed office as Senior Vice President, while Mr. Fadhil Jiffry, Chief Financial Officer of LSEG, was elected Vice President. Ms. Krystle Reid Wijesuriya, Chief Executive Officer of We Are Team Rocket, was elected Treasurer. Immediate Past President Mr. Mark Surgenor, CEO, of HSBC will continue to serve on the Committee.
The following companies were elected to serve on the Council’s Committee for 2026–2027: Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd, GTN Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, Hayleys PLC, Hilton Colombo Residences, John Keells Holdings PLC, MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Ocean Pick (Pvt) Ltd, Point to Point Consulting, Unilever Sri Lanka Limited, Wilton Metal Box Company (Pvt) Ltd.
The Council also invited Ms. Asanthi Fernando, Head of Trade & Investment at the British High Commission; Mr. Sanath Manatunge, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC; Ms. Hannah Wells, Principal of The British School in Colombo; and Mr. Orlando Edwards, Country Director of the British Council Sri Lanka, to serve on the Committee by invitation. Mr. Shirendra Lawrence, Ms. Roshanie Moraes, and Ms. Tania Polonnowita were appointed to the Advisory Committee, ensuring continuity and strategic guidance for the Council’s future initiatives.
Addressing the gathering, His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, congratulated the Council on its continued achievements in promoting bilateral business relations. While commending Sri Lanka businesses for their adaptability and innovation, he welcomed the increase in British tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka and recent developments in aviation connectivity, which are expected to further strengthen commercial engagement and linkages between the two countries.
Highlighting the United Kingdom’s continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s economic growth, His Excellency drew attention to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), one of the most generous trading preference schemes in the world, which provides zero-tariff access for Sri Lankan exporters to the UK market. He noted that the latest reforms introduced in January 2026 provide a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s apparel sector by expanding preferential market access and enhancing the competitiveness of Sri Lankan exports. He encouraged Sri Lankan businesses to make full use of the opportunities available under the DCTS to diversify exports, increase trade, and further strengthen the economic partnership between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.
Delivering his farewell address, Outgoing President Mr. Mark Surgenor reflected on a year of significant progress for the Council. He noted the continued growth of bilateral trade, supported by the United Kingdom’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which has created enhanced market access opportunities for Sri Lankan exporters. Mr. Surgenor highlighted several key achievements during his tenure, including the establishment of a dedicated Next Generation and SME platform aimed at engaging young professionals, entrepreneurs, and future business leaders, economic briefings, networking events, and collaborative engagements with public and private sector stakeholders.
In her inaugural address, Ms. Ameena Ziauddin reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening the Council’s role as a platform for business collaboration and highlighted the success of the NextGen Committee, the first initiative of its kind established under a business council in Sri Lanka. The platform has created opportunities for young professionals and entrepreneurs to engage meaningfully with the business community while supporting the development of future business leaders.
