Policy Advocacy

Scope

Advise the Chamber on policy recommendations to Government and private sector on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Formulate submissions to be made through the CCC with regard to policy interventions that are needed at national level to manage the adverse impacts of climate change.

Advise the Chamber on meaningful actions that can be taken to promote the Agenda for Sustainable Development by mobilizing the Private Sector.

Composition

Co-Chair

Mr. Dilhan Fernando – CEO – Dilmah Tea Company

Mr. Sheran Fernando – Managing Director – Innosolve Lanka Pvt Ltd

Members

Scope

Drive the Chamber’s efforts towards digitization and advocating solutions to resolve policy, regulatory, and operational constraints affecting innovation led development and to be proactive in pursuing the use of Big data, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and other such developments to contribute to national economic development.

Formulate submissions to be made through the CCC with regard to policy interventions that are needed at national level to ensure Digitization strategies are aligned with the needs of a technology driven development process.

Advise the Chamber on meaningful actions that can be taken to promote the agenda to create a strong Digital Economy by mobilizing the Private Sector.

Examine the methods currently adopted by Ministries and departments that can be digitalized to provide a more efficient service to the public and Identify interventions that can add value to improve public sector delivery of services.

Composition

Co-Chair

Mr. Dinesh Saparamadu – Chairman – hSenid Group of Companies

Mr. Supun Weerasinghe – Director/Group CEO – Dialog Axiata PLC

Members

Scope

Keep under review all aspects of the performance of the national economy, with particular focus on macroeconomic fundamentals and identify in a timely manner, interventions required to be pursued, to ensure that private sector concerns are communicated to the policy makers.

Provide submissions to be made through the CCC, to the relevant line Ministry, in the formulation of recommendations on focus areas that the Committee will seek to influence.

Submit recommendations to the Board as to steps that need to be taken to action the Chamber’s position on the economy

Composition

Chair

Mr. Bingumal Thewarathanthri – CEO – Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka

Members

Scope

Evaluate the current ecosystem and identify constraints, impediments and challenges that need to be addressed and identify interventions that are necessary to address them.

Propose interventions that can add value to improve the public sector service delivery for promotion of entrepreneurship.

Formulate and guide the implementation of programs to address youth unemployment through the creation of a favourable environment for young entrepreneurs.

Make recommendations to enable the active engagement of regional Chambers as partners for formulating and implementing entrepreneurship development programs in the regions.

Identify the gaps in existing government policies and propose reforms that are necessary to fast track Entrepreneurship Development.

Provide guidance to the CCC Start Up Council and the CCC Centre for SMEs to ensure they optimise their contribution towards the development of Start Ups and SMEs respectively

Composition

Chair

Ms. Selyna Peiris – Director – Business Development -Selyn Exporters Pvt Ltd

Members

Scope

To keep the committee updated on the overall performance of economy related to exports with in-depth input on their respective export sectors in a timely manner.

To formulate periodic reports and recommendations to the CCC Board;

• on export performance and emerging issues relating to the business environment.
• to formulate CCC position on export and related aspects of trade
• to provide input for broader advocacy efforts of CCC on request such as recommendations of for National Budget.

Make submissions to policy makers and other key stakeholders recommending interventions for improvement in exports (including export sectors), trade and the economy.

The committee is required to meet at least once every quarter.

Composition

Co-Chairs

Mr. Dinesh de Silva – Senior International Trade Facilitation Expert

Mr. Vinod Hirdaramani – Chairman – Hirdaramani Group

Members

Scope

Advise the Chamber on policy recommendations to Government and private sector on strategies for investment promotion.

Formulate submissions to be made through the CCC with regard to policy interventions that are needed at national level to ensure investment promotion strategies are aligned with the need to generate a significant volume of FDI.

On the back of the successful Sri Lanka Investment Forum (SLIF), to guide the Chamber in terms of the next stage of developing SLIF as a portal for continuous engagement with prospective investors.
Advocate solutions to resolve constraints related to investment promotion and facilitation (domestic and foreign).

Composition

Chair

Mr. Duminda Hulangamuwa – Country Managing Partner – Ernst & Young

Members

Scope

Keep under review all draft legislation and Bills with special emphasis on matters relevant to the private sector and identify interventions required to be pursued, to ensure that private sector concerns are communicated to the policymakers.

Submit reports to the Board, highlighting vital aspects relating to matters relevant to the private sector and emerging issues relating to the business environment.

Identify proposals for law reform to be submitted to Government through consultations with all stakeholders.

Submit recommendations to the Board relating to steps that need to be taken to action the position of the CCC, with regard to matters relating to proposed legislation.

Composition

Chair

Mr. Keerthi Pathiraja – Assistant Director – Legal and Regulatory/Company Secretary – Nestle Lanka PLC

Members

Scope

Advise the Chamber on policy recommendations to Government and private sector on education, skills and talent development.

Formulate submissions to be made through the CCC with regard to policy interventions that are needed at national level to ensure people development strategies are aligned with the needs of a growing economy.

Advise the Chamber on meaningful actions that can be taken to promote the Agenda for People Development by mobilizing the Private Sector.

Composition

Chair

Dr. Ananada Jayawardena – Commission Member – University Grants Commission

Members

Scope

Review the current processes within Government to identify those which militate against an efficient discharge of functions that affect commercial activity.

Review the current Government Procurement guidelines and identify areas where improvements or revisions are required to ensure good decision making, transparency and efficiency.

Examine financial and other features of State-Owned Enterprises and recommend measures to improve their performance and contribution to the national economy.

Review the implementation of governance policies within the government and propose reforms

Composition

Chair

Mr. Manjula de Silva – Director – Central Finance PLC, BPPL Holdings PLC

Members

Scope

Monitor and evaluate the tax regime applicable in Sri Lanka with particular focus on changes which impact on the private sector, and identify interventions required to be pursued, to ensure that private sector concerns are communicated to the policy makers.

Submit reports periodically to the Board, highlighting vital aspects relating to the tax regime and emerging issues relating to the business environment.

Formulate submissions to be made through the CCC to the Ministry of Finance, in the formulation of the annual Budget, with regard to matters relating to tax.

Submit recommendations to the Board as to steps that need to be taken to action the Chamber’s position with regard to matters relating to taxation

Composition

Chair

Mr. Sulaiman Nishtar – Partner – Tax – Ernst & Young

Members