Sri Lanka’s Business Diaspora Takes a Giant Leap with the Global Federation Launch

The Sri Lanka Business Council of Japan (SLBCJ) held its 20th Anniversary on the 9th of October, 2023 at Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo, Japan. It was attended by His Excellency Rodney Perera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan, State Minister of Investment Promotion Hon. Dilum Amunugama, Cabinet Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment Hon. Manusha Nanayakkara, Member of Parliament in Japan Hon. Yamaguchi Susumu, Mayor of Ayase City Hon. Koshio Masayoshi, Iwase Kiichiro from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of several associations in Japan and other VIP guests. His Excellency Ranil Wickramaighe, President of Sri Lanka, who had planned to attend the event, had sent a video message conveying his congratulations and his regrets for being unable to be present. The highlight of the 20th Anniversary celebration was the launch of the Global Federation of Sri Lankan Business Councils (GFSLBC), a project  spearheaded by International Director of SLBCJ Sajeev Rajaputhra, President of SLBCJ Jagath Ramanayake, and Treasurer Jitendra Samarawickrama. The aim of the Global Federation is to unite all Sri Lankan Busienss Councils worldwide under one umbrella organization, linking and strengthening global Sri Lankan Busienss people in their businesses and supporting Sri Lanka during its economic recovery.

Many members of international business councils had flown in to attend the workshop earlier that morning where Sajeev Rajaputhra (Country Representative to Japan of Ministry of Investment Promotion and International Director of SLBCJ) was elected the first Secretary-General of the Global Federation, followed by Kula Sellathurai (President of the Sri Lanka Canada Business Convention) as Deputy-Secretary-General, Ravi Varma (Vice President of the Sri Lanka Busienss Council of Dubai & Northern Emirates) as Under-Secretary, Sanje Sedara (President of the Sri Lanka America Chamber of Commerce) as Deputy-Under-Secretary, Naveen Chandrasekara (Vice President Chiba of SLBCJ) as Treasurer, and Jitendra Samarawickrama (Treasurer of SLBCJ) as Deputy-Treasurer. Jagath Ramanayake was given a post of Honorary Advisor of the Global Federation.