Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce appointed Mr. Krishan Balendra as its new Chairperson at the 186th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently. Balendra, who serves as Chairperson of John Keells Holdings PLC, succeeds Mr. Duminda Hulangamuwa, Country Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Sri Lanka and Senior Economic Adviser to the President.
This marks a historic milestone for the Chamber, as Balendra’s late father, Mr. Ken Balendra, also held the position of Chairperson from 1998 to 2000—making it the first instance in the Chamber’s 186-year history where both father and son have assumed the leadership role.
In his inaugural address, Balendra expressed gratitude to his predecessor, noting Mr. Hulangamuwa’s steady leadership during challenging times and his contributions toward steering the private sector through crisis conditions.
Looking ahead, Balendra underscored the urgency of continuing economic reforms, cautioning against “reform fatigue” that could stall momentum. He emphasised the need to capitalise on Sri Lanka’s recent macroeconomic stability by implementing long-overdue structural changes. Key areas identified included SOE restructuring, trade liberalisation, and improvements to the investment climate.
He also called for swift execution of existing initiatives such as the Digital ID system, National Single Window for trade facilitation, Customs Ordinance modernisation, and the National Tourism Destination Marketing Plan. “These are not new ideas – they have been on the agenda for years. What we need now is action,” he stated.
Reaffirming the Chamber’s role, Balendra pledged to maintain its position as an independent and constructive advocate for the private sector.
The AGM’s Chief Guest, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, commended the Chamber’s ongoing contributions, saying he was “encouraged, impressed, and confident” in its efforts to support economic resilience and identify key reforms for sustainable growth.
Also appointed for the 2025/26 term were Standard Chartered Bank CEO Mr. Bingumal Thewarathanthri as Vice Chairman and Hirdaramani Group Chairman Mr. Vinod Hirdaramani as Deputy Vice Chairman.
New members elected to the Board include:
• Ms. Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson – COO & Head of APAC, 5-Hour International Corporation, Singapore
• Mr. Supun Weerasinghe – Director/Group CEO, Dialog Axiata PLC
• Mr. Bernhard Stefan – Managing Director, Nestlé Lanka
• Ms. Jayanthi Dharmasena – Managing Director, Hayleys Agriculture Ltd.
• Ms. Shibani Thambiayah – Managing Director, Renuka Hotels
• Mr. Buwanekabahu Perera – Secretary General and CEO, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Now entering its 186th year, The Ceylon Chamber continues to focus on its core pillars of policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and market access expansion for Sri Lankan businesses.
