Malaysian Business Council in Kandy

Business ties between Sri Lanka and Malaysia reached a new level yesterday with the formation in Kandy of the first ever regional business council between the two countries. The Sri Lanka Malaysia Regional Council was launched in the central hill town, the first time such a chamber-like body has been set up outside Colombo.

The Chamber of Commerce facilitates the Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council based in Colombo and likewise has initiated several other councils between Sri Lanka and other countries including Japan.

Malaysia being Sri Lanka’s biggest investor and plans underway for Malaysian involvement in the Colombo-Kandy new highway led to this move, according to Daya Weeraratne, chairman of the council. Weeraratne, a founder member of the Central Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says there is a lot of potential for Malaysian companies to invest and do business in Kandy while Kandy firms are also looking at export opportunities in Malaysia. Malaysian High Commissioner Nazirah Hussain witnessed the launch of the new council.