The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka has elected Nalaka Ratnayake as its new chairperson at the organisation’s 29th Annual General Meeting.
Ratnayake will be supported by Manuje Hordagoda as First Vice Chairperson and Rozanne de Almeida as Second Vice Chairperson. Outgoing chairperson Yohan Lawrence will continue to serve as Immediate Past Chairperson. The Association’s executive committee draws representatives from 14 major organisations, including Hayleys, Lion Brewery and Sampath Bank.
In his address, Ratnayake called for accelerated reforms to improve trade digitalisation, the ease of doing business and export competitiveness. Lawrence used the meeting to highlight the Association’s advocacy on issues such as the repeal of the Simplified Value Added Tax (SVAT) scheme, trade facilitation and implementation of the National Single Window.
World Bank Group Country Manager Gevorg Sargsyan attended as chief guest. “No country, particularly a small country, has ever sustained prosperity by looking inward,” he told the gathering, urging Sri Lanka to leverage its location and talent to build a more competitive, outward-facing economy.
The leadership change comes as Sri Lankan exporters navigate shifting global demand, new sustainability requirements in key markets and the push to lift merchandise and services exports as part of the country’s economic recovery.
