::HDCC::

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	Who are we
	Objectives
	Profile
	History of HDCC
	Location
	Director Board
	Past President
	Committees
	Management Team

	About us
	About Hambantota
	Membership
	Our Services
	Inward Investment
	Special Projects
	News & Events
	Affiliations
	Useful links
	Contact Us

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Who are we ?

Registered as the first District Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka in 1993, HDCC is a membership based organization that has grown remarkably and now numbers 246 direct members, 19 sustaining members and 6 association members. It is in the process of expanding further by collaborating with other sectoral and geographical associations to offer expertise and support and to augment its own impact.

In order to foster such extraordinary growth, HDCC develops strategic partnerships with national and international organizations. The Royal Norwegian Embassy has long been the principal partner to HDCC and in 2005, a new partnership was formed with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) and Manchester Solutions’ (MS) These partnerships and others provide funding, expertise, and access to information and resources that would not otherwise be available.

To support the community and its members, HDCC has developed an information service that gathers, organizes and distributes information on the District. HDCC also provides Information Technology services to the District, and operates the Internet Technology Centre, an internet cafe.

I response to the 12/26/04 Tsunami, HDCC organized its Back to Business operation to assist businesses to recover from the catastrophe. As the disaster recovery programmes fulfill their mandates, HDCC hopes this unit will continue to provide business development services to both Members and non-members in the District. To support both employers and job seekers in the District, HDCC operates a Job Placement Service that matches job seekers with available jobs.

Recognizing an economic sector that is underperforming in the District, HDCC is in process of developing a programme of support for the tourism industry.

The Hambantota Youth Business Trust (HYBT) is closely related to HDCC. HYBT is supported by Youth Business International, a part of the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, and provides loans and business support to help disadvantaged youth start their own businesses.

HDCC contributes to economic growth and development in the District by supporting private enterprise. As with all ethical business organizations, HDCC also recognizes its corporate social responsibility and supports several small community based organizations by providing business and planning expertise. Staff and management at HDCC work hard to realize the vision of the Chamber. HDCC’s partner organizations support that hard work and are rewarded with international experience, broadened horizons, and excellent results for their efforts.

Our Vision ...

" To act as the ‘Gateway’ for development, ensuring the social cohesion and economic success of the Hambantota District."

			Our Mission ...
			"To be a professional, sustainable organization, making available a wide range of development services to individuals and enterprises, helping to accelerate economic growth and enhance prosperity throughout the District."

Objectives

Strengthen & Organize Membership
Provide Business Development Services
Promote investment & Lobbying
Manage Special Projects
Build Institutional Capacity
Rebuild Tsunami Affected Businesses
Promote Tourism
Develop Youth

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Profile

Name of the Organization

: - Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce

Address

: - Tangalle Road, Hambantota, Sri Lanka.

: - Tel : +94 (0) 47 2220940/1
... Fax : +94 (0) 472220448
.. .Email : chamber@hdcc.lk

Year of Establishment

: - 1993

Legal Status

: - Limited Company incorporated under the companies act no 7 of 2007

Basic Activities

Business Development services
Youth Development services
Tourism Promotion
Undertaking Special Projects

History of HDCC

HDCC began as an Association in 1990 under a Government initiative that encouraged young new entrepreneurs to collaborate with existing businesses.

At that time the country as a whole, and Hambantota District in particular, had just come out of the 1988-1989 insurrections, which had been a very difficult and dangerous time for businesses and the people who ran them.

The Hambantota Integrated Rural Development Project (HIRDEP) which had been working in the District since 1979, began collaborating with HDCC on its idea of setting up an entrepreneur's service centre. HIRDEP had wanted to set up such a centre since the mid-1980s, and saw in HDCC a unique opportunity to move forward.

The idea of the Hambantota Entrepreneur Service Centre (HESC) had emerged in the mid-1980s as part of HIRDEP’s strategic private sector role in jump-starting economic development through support of local SMEs. HESC was designed as a one-stop centre for business development - either through the direct provision of services or as a referral and coordination centre. HESC was managed by HDCC, and eventually amalgamated within it.

In 1993, with technical and financial assistance from USAlD, HDCC was formally incorporated, and since then has worked in cooperation with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, the Government of Sri Lanka and many INGOs - as well as with multi-lateral and bi-lateral donor agencies and their projects. In 1998-1999, during HIRDEP's final two years, HDCC was given full responsibility for HIRDEP's private sector economic development activities.

In a report on his visit to Sri Lanka in 1997 Professor Malcolm Harper - of the Nottingham Business School - an eminent specialist in micro-finance and enterprise development, said of HDCC:

“HDCC is a most unusual enterprise development institution which can serve as a valuable example to donors, governments and business membership organizations anywhere ”

When HIRDEP was wound up, as planned, in 1999, it had established continuity via HESC and HDCC. In its report on what worked and did not work with HIRDEP, the Chr. Michelsen Institute of Development Studies and Human Rights (Bergen, Norway) notes that:

"HIRDEP’s attempt to establish new small-scale industries by and large failed, while its role as a midwife to the birth of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce is a remarkable success.

HDCC was the first District level Chamber in Sri Lanka and has been seen as a model for many others.

In 1999, HDCC successfully requested financial support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE) in Colombo to carry through a five-year plan for ‘life after HIRDEP’. A close cooperative relationship has existed since then between HDCC and the RNE, which has continued to be a loyal supporter of the Chamber and its work.

As well as concentrating upon providing services for its members, HDCC has also started unique projects such as the Hambantota Youth Business Trust and the Career Services Centre and has sustained them for more than ten years. These projects are now being considered as possible programs that could expand across the country. Early in the 1990's, HDCC first started lobbying on credit related collateral issues on behalf of SMEs; today, the results of this work are seen in the existence of the Southern Chamber Credit Guarantee Fund.

In 2002, after the signing of the ceasefire agreement, the HDCC recognised the role that the business community could play in promoting peace and conflict resolution. Through its participation in the Business for Peace Alliance, HDCC has helped the BPA operate effectively at a regional business level.

The 2004 tsunami disaster pushed the country into a period of great uncertainty but, responding to the crisis, HDCC emerged as a unifying force acting as a beacon for local ownership of the relief, recovery and re-development of the District.

All individuals, programs, organisations and governments that have shown an interest in and support for HDCC by providing technical assistance, encouragement, and funding can be pleased and proud of what they have helped us to achieve.

Location

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Director Board

Name

Designation

1. Mr. Alhaj M. Shaheed Usuph

: - President

2. Mr. Sudantha Akmeemena

: - Senior Vice President

3. Mr. M. Chaminda

: - Vice President

4. Mr. I.K. Kumara Jayasinghe

: - Immediate Past President

5. Mr. Suresh De Mel

: - Director

6. Mr. K.A.H. Padmalal

: - Director

7. Mr. D. W. Anura Upul

: - Director

8. Mr. Sisira D Jayasinghe

: - Director

9. Mr. Sunil Abeysooriya		: - Director
10. Ms. Vishaka Darshani Bandara		: - Director
11. Ms. S.S.R. Musaffer		: - Director

12. Mr. Samapala Manamperi

: - Director

13. Mr. Nihal Asoka Egodage

: - Director

14. Mr. B.S.K. Jayawardena

: - Director

15. Mr. L.P. Premaratne

: - Director

16. Mr. Alhaj A.L.M. Zarook

: - Director

17. Mr. W.G. Punchihewa

: - Director

18. Mr. W.G. Gunadasa

: - Director

19. Mr. W.H. Gamanie

: - Director

20. Mr. Siripala Edirisinghe

: - Director

21. Mr. S.J. Winnie

: - Director

22. Ms. A.J.K. Nanayakkara

: - Director

23. Mr.N.N. Samarasinghe

: - Director

President

Mr. Alhaj M. Shaheed Usuph
Managing Director
Al Najath Import & Export (Pvt)Ltd

Past Presidents

This distinguished group is made up of all past presidents of the organization. These professionals stay very active with the organization long after their term as president, through their participation on the Nominating and Human Resources Committee, other committees or through special projects and activities.

1993-1995, 1997-1998

Mr. M. Azmi Thassim,
Managing Director,
M.R.Thassim & Company (pvt) Ltd.

1996 – 1997

Mr. Keerthi Munasinghe,
Managing Director,
Singhe Group of Companies.

1998 – 1999

Mr. G. S. Mahanama,
Managing Director,
Mahanama Company (pvt)Ltd.

2000-2001

Mr. S. R. G. Dhammika,
Proprietor,
Mangala Book Shop.

2002-2003

Mr. Tilar Nadugala,
Proprietor,
Sarath Saw Mill.

2004-2005

Mr. M. Ganesha Siriwardena,
Proprietor,
Tissa Inn.

2006-2007

Mr. J. K. A. Samson Abeykoon
Proprietor,
Achira Builders (Pvt) Ltd.

2008-2009

Mr. K. Liyanaarachchi
Managing Director,
Liyanarachchi Builders (Pvt) Ltd.

2010 - 2011

Mr. I.K. Kumara Jayasinghe
Managing Director,
Saranga Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd.

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comm

Committees

FINANCIAL & POLICY COMMITTEE

HYBP PROJECT EVALUATION COMMITTEE

Committee Members

Designation

Committee Members

Designation

Mr. Keerthi Munasinghe

: - Chairman

Mr. Sudantha Akmeemena

: - Chairman

Mr. W.K.P.L. Kumara

: - Vice Chairman

Mr. Alhaj M.Shaheed Usuph

: - Member

Mr. T.S. Amith

Mr. M. Chaminda

: - Member

Mr. Hemantha Padmalal

Mr. I. K. Kumara Jayasinghe

: - Member

Hatton National Bank

: - Member

Social Mobilization Foundation

: - Member

Tourism Development Committee

Hambantota Development

Committee Members

Designation

Foundation

: - Member

Mr. M. Ganesha Siriwardena

: - President

Women Development Foundation

: - Member

Mr. Suresh De Mel

: - Advisor

Small Enterprise

Mr. Ranjith Muthumala

: - Member

Development Unit

: - Member

Mr. Suresh Fernando

: - Member

Ernst & Young

: - Member

Mr. Rohan Wanigesinghe

: - Member

Mr. Wajira Ilangasinghe

: - Member

HYBP Mentor Coordination Committee

Mr. Deepal Amarasinghe

: - Member

Committee Members

Designation

Mr. Priyankara Wickramasekara

: - Member

Mr. Tilar Nadugala

: - Chairman

Mr. Nihal Gunasekera

: - Member

Mr. Percy Anthony Muthukumarana

: - Member

Mr. S.R.G. Dhammika

: - Member

Mr. N.S. Daluwatte

: - Member

Mr. M.GaneshaSiriwardena

: - Member

Our Management Team

Name

Designation

Email

Ms. Krishanthi Weerasinghe

Chief Executive Officer

chamber@hdcc.lk

Mr. T. M. Fazlim Batcha

Manager -Business Development & Information Technology

info@hdcc.lk

Ms. Suddammika Wickramanayake

Manager – Hambantota Job Solutions

rc@hdcc.lk

Mr. Sanjeewa Guruge

Executive – Hambantota Youth Business

hybp@hdcc.lk

Ms. Kumuduni Ramanayake

Executive – Administration, Secretariat

sec@hdcc.lk

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