The Ceylon
National Chamber of Industries commenced in the year 1960
at a time the industrialists were small timers compared with
some of the giants who operate today. They had to pit their
wits against bid trading organizations, as industry in Sri
Lanka during that era was viewed with a condescending attitude.
The large traders were all members of the Ceylon Chamber of
Commerce and the small industrialists especially the Sri Lankan
Nationals felt they needed a forum of their own in order to
develop their ventures.
It was during this time of uncertainty that
Mr. Cyril E. S. Perera an eminent lawyer came together with
small industrialists to establish the Ceylon National Chamber
of Industries. The first few Chairmen of that era were men
of influence in the political field.
Eminent politicians such as Sir Claude Corea
and Mr. Arthur Ratnayake succeeded Mr. Cyril E. S. Perera
as Chairman. It can be understood now that the small industrialists
knew the importance of political affiliation, as well as the
value of administrative ability. Mr. K. Somasunderam next
served for 5 years as Chairman during a period of change from
1965 to 1970.
It was during his time that the Ceylon National
Chamber of Industries was incorporated by an Act of Parliament
No. 10 in 1969.
A retired Civil Servant Mr. Edmund J. Cooray
took over the reins of office in 1970. He had a very respected
Chief Executive Officer in Mr. P. Sangarapillai who himself
was a retired Civil Servant, who ended up as Commissioner
of Motor Traffic. Until the time of Mr. Edmund J. Cooray the
Executive Council Meetings were held at the residences of
the respective Chairmen. However, with the advent of Mr. Cooray
all meetings were held in the Board Room of Brown & Co.
Ltd. Mr. Cooray was one time a Minister of Justice who retired
from politics to serve the cause of Industry and Commerce.
In the 1970s Mr. T. B. Subasinghe was the
Minister of Industries and it is known that he together with
Mr. Maithripala Senanayake and Dr. N. M. Perera of the then
government, did much to foster industry in an era of a closed
economy. Much was done during this time to strengthen the
position of industry and it is known that during this period
Mr. Sangarapillai published many articles in the press on
Sri Lanka’s need to foster industry.
He is said to have provided great leadership
in convincing the government of the day, the importance of
Industrial growth in Sri Lanka. Sadly, however that was an
era of a shortage of foreign currency and industry had to
survive on quotas for all items. However, industry was protected
with very high tariffs and it is thought that the seed that
was planted in the 1960s flowered due to the protection granted
in the 1970s.
Mr. H. E. P. De Mel was the next Chairman
and during his tenure of office the chamber moved to a premises
in Bristol Building, Colombo Fort. Mr. Sangarapillai still
remained the Chief Executive Officer and in February 1983
he was elevated to a consultative capacity.
Mr. Gilbert Jayasuriya, a barrister who was
a leader in the Tourist Industry succeeded Mr. H. E. P. de
Mel in 1978, the year, which saw the dawn of the open economy.
During his time he had a very good rapport with the government
of the day and the Chamber developed further by moving into
its present more spacious office at Galle Face Court, Colombo
03.
In 1980 June, Sri Lanka experienced its first
extended power cuts that affected industry in many ways. The
power cuts were of two-hour duration in the morning and three
hours in the evening. It was resolved by the Ceylon National
Chamber of Industries to have a four day working week with
Friday to be declared a non working day, rather than to continue
with daily power cuts. This was also during the era when Mr.
Gilbert Jayasuriya was Chairman.
Mr. Gilbert Jayasuriya was followed by Mr.
A. R. P. Wijesekera, an Engineer with an industry of his own,
and was followed by Mr. D. S. Madanayake, a Barrister in 1982.
The next momentous event was witnessed in
July 1983 from the point of view of the Chamber, when ethnic
riots ripped the country and many industrialists of the Tamil
community bore the agony of seeing their life’s work
destroyed. This was also during the time of Mr. D. S. Madanayake.
A galaxy of distinguished Chairmen such as
M/s. R. B. Pahathkumbura, Chandra Karunanayake, K. C. Vignarajah,
Lal de Mel, Nihal Abeysekera, Patrick Amarasinghe, Nimal Samarakkody,
Dr. Bandula Perera and Mr. Asoka de Z. Gunasekera and Mr.
Ranjith Hettiarachchy followed and so the saga continues.
Mr. Ranjith Hettiarachchy, a Director of
the DSI Group succeeded Mr. Asoka de Z. Gunasekera in 2002
– Mr. Nimal Perera, the Chief Executive Officer of Kuruwita
Textiles and Managing Director of Nids Fabrics Ltd headed
the organisation from 2004 to 2006. At the Annual General
Meeting held on 29th August 2006, Mr. A. K. Ratnarajah who
functioned as the Deputy Chairman succeeded Mr. Nimal Perera
for a two-year term. Mr. Ratnarajah is the Founder Chairman/Managing
Director of Ceylon Tapes (Pvt) Ltd, a pioneering company established
in 1991 to manufacture a range of adhesive tapes.
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