The delegation from the Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce met with the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce to further their mission of strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties. The meeting, held on October 22nd, was hosted by Leslie Courchesne, CEO of the Tri-Cities Chamber, who warmly welcomed the Sri Lankan delegates.
Courchesne provided an overview of the Chamber, tracing its history back to 1971 when it was formed through the merger of three separate Chambers. The Tri-Cities Chamber represents a wide range of businesses across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, and the Villages of Anmore and Belcarra. Its membership includes major employers, small and medium-sized enterprises, non-profits, and home-based entrepreneurs, all united under a mission of fostering local prosperity through strong public policy and active community engagement.
Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council President, Priyantha Chandrasekera, briefed the audience on the Council’s current initiatives, expressing interest in exploring opportunities in Agri-Tech, Education, IT/BPO, and Travel & Tourism. Chandrasekera underscored the potential for collaboration between businesses in the two regions, particularly in these growth sectors.
Vice President Mohamed Hameez also addressed the gathering, offering insights into Sri Lanka’s current economic conditions and highlighting the numerous opportunities available for Canadian businesses interested in entering the Sri Lankan market.
Several prominent companies from the IT, real estate, and oil sectors participated in the discussions, exploring potential partnerships and joint ventures. Most present across the table positively responded and expressed their willingness to work closely with Sri Lankan counterparts. Additionally, the delegation expressed interest in formalizing a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signaling a strong commitment to future collaboration.
