The Sri Lanka–Italy Business Council (SLITBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has elected Dushy Jayaweera of the Acorn Group as its President for the year ahead.
The appointment was made at the Council’s 27th Annual General Meeting, the Daily Mirror reported.
The new committee
Shamil Mendis of Spear International was appointed Senior Vice President and Anika Williamson of JAT Holdings was elected Vice President. Daminda Mulgama, the outgoing President, will continue to serve as Immediate Past President.
Five of the Council’s 13 past presidents attended the meeting — a turnout the Council linked to its 27-year history and to the role successive office-holders have played in promoting trade and investment between the two countries.
Diplomatic attendance
The Council’s Patron, Damiano Francovigh, Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka, attended alongside Dr. Alberto Arcidiacono, Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy.
The keynote address was delivered by Timothy O’Reilly, Managing Director of Taprobane Seafoods, who spoke about his company’s experience building business in both Sri Lanka and Italy and the openings available to Sri Lankan firms in the Italian market.
Members reviewed the Council’s activities over the past year and discussed priorities for expanding bilateral trade and investment. The meeting closed with an Italian-themed dinner for members and guests from both business communities.
Not reported
The report does not give figures for current Sri Lanka–Italy trade, name the specific sectors the Council intends to prioritise, or set out the full elected committee beyond the four office-holders listed. The Council operates under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and works with the Italian Embassy and trade promotion bodies. This item was carried as a business-desk release; no other verified newsroom had filed on the AGM at the time of writing.