Sri Lanka-China Business Council aims to boost joint trade
EconomyNext: The Sri Lanka-China Business Council (SLCHBC) will support the implementation of the Sri Lanka-China Bilateral Trade Agreement, sharpening business-matching efforts between companies from the two countries, its new President Sampath Kumara said.
He was speaking at the SLCHBC, part of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, annual general meeting.
The council marked 25 years of partnership and commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation with China.
Attracting greater Chinese investment into joint ventures that combine Sri Lankan expertise with Chinese technology and market access, will be a focus Kumara said.
Haroun Cader, outgoing President of the SLCHBC, reflected on key milestones of his tenure, including the Sri Lanka-China Trade and Investment Forum, which brought together more than one hundred Chinese delegates and a broad cross-section of Sri Lankan industry, and the Renminbi Internationalization Forum held in October 2025, which explored wider use of the Chinese currency in bilateral trade to reduce conversion and transaction costs.
Cader acknowledged the continuing trade imbalance between the two countries and called on Sri Lanka to identify more competitive export products and services while encouraging investment that creates employment, transfers technology, and strengthens local industries.
The Executive Committee for 2026/27 comprises: President – Sampath Kumara, Senior Vice President – Chandrika Ranawaka, Vice President Mohamed Hameez, Treasurer Adheesha Salpitikorala, Immediate Past President Haroun Cader. committee members – Dulith Ahangama, Samuddika Mendis, Anil Koswatta, Bharatha Subasinghe, Damith Jayawardana, Lushan Nalinda, Mr. Rizwan Jowhersha, Rajeeban Arumugam, and Rakitha De Silva. The Council also welcomed Dr. Lasantha Wickramasooriya, Jay Ong, Chaminda Perera, Ted Muttiah, and Prabath Harshakumar as Honorary Members.
The SLCHBC continues to play a critical role in fostering trade, investment, innovation, and sustainable partnerships between Sri Lanka and China.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and expanding business environment are creating fresh business/investment opportunities for Chinese companies and investors, with the country’s longstanding economic relationship with China providing a strong foundation for deeper commercial engagement. The Sri Lanka-China Business Council’s renewed focus on implementing the Sri Lanka-China Bilateral Trade Agreement and strengthening business matching could help translate the two countries’ strong bilateral ties into greater private-sector investment. SLCHBC President Sampath Kumara has identified attracting Chinese investment into joint ventures combining Sri Lankan expertise with Chinese technology and market access as a key priority. With China already a major trading partner and development partner, business/investment opportunities are emerging across sectors including manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure, tourism, renewable energy, technology, agriculture and value-added exports. Chinese companies can also use Sri Lanka’s strategic location and improving economic conditions as a platform to access regional markets. Closer business-to-business cooperation could therefore move the relationship beyond traditional trade and infrastructure projects towards a broader investment partnership, creating opportunities for Chinese firms to participate in Sri Lanka’s next phase of economic growth while strengthening the country’s integration with Asian supply and value chains.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260818Z_2 |