Lankan chambers welcome new president, cabinet; says prepared to help in governance reforms

Business chambers and industry chambers on Tuesday began sending customary messages welcoming Sri Lanka's new cabinet. Among the first to do so was the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce which extended its ‘best wishes to Ranil Wickremasinghe, Prime Minister, the newly appointed Cabinet of Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers’. The chamber said it was encouraged that the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers have committed to a 100-day programme of reforms to ensure good governance and extended its fullest cooperation towards this initiative. “In addition to its focus on governance, the Ceylon Chamber urges the Government to take advantage of the prevailing positive environment to seek unity amongst our diverse communities. The Chamber encourages the Government to leverage the broad support and goodwill it has received not just from the electorate, but also from diverse political parties to bring about a lasting and durable peace based on a shared vision for the future of our country,” the statement said. The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) congratulated Maithripala Sirisena on his elected as Executive President and noted that polling was concluded in a relatively peaceful manner, conducive to strengthening the democratic process. “THASL notes with appreciation the commitment of the President to establish good governance as highlighted in his manifesto which is strengthened by the appointment of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and subsequently the new cabinet. Further, THASL views the results of the recently concluded election as a clarion call for unity and harmony amongst our communities and the need for a shared vision amongst them to ensure sustainable long term security and stability of the country. It also looks forward to the continued growth of tourism as a major contributor to economic growth under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena,” the premier tourism agency said.