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Who are we
Objectives
Profile
History of HDCC
Location
Director Board
Past President
Committees
Management Team
   
About us
 
                               
   
  into
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
    
  inverment
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
  1. Business Development services
  2. Youth Development services
  3. Tourism Promotion                                 
  4. 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.
  
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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. I.K. Kumara Jayasinghe
  
: - President
                                      
 
2. Mr. Alhaj M. Shaheed Usuph
: - Senior Vice President
        
 
3. Mr. Sudantha Akmeemena  
: - Vice President
       
 
4. Mr. K. Liyanaarachchi   
: - Past President
        
 
5. Mr. Sisira D Jayasinghe
  
: - Director
        
 
6. Mr. N. A. Somasiri
  
: - Director
        
 
7. Mr. D. W. Anura Upul
  
: - Director
        
 
8. Mr. P. M. Wickramasekera
  
: - Director
       
 
9. Mr. Sunil Abeysooriya
  
: - Director
        
 
10. Mr. Suresh Fernando
: - Director
11. Mr. M. Chaminda
: - Director
12. Mr. Suresh De Mel
: - Director
13. Mr. J. W. C.  Mohotti
: - Director
14. Mr. K. A. H. Padmalal
: - Director
                                         
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
 
15. Mr. Samapala Manamperi  
: - Director
                           
 
16. Mr. N. M. Samarawickrama
: - Director
                           
 
17. Mr. Nihal Asoka Egodage
: - Director
                           
 
18. Ms. Vishaka Darshani Bandara 
: - Director
                           
 
19. Ms. W.H. Chandra  
: - Director
                           
 
20. Ms. S. S. R. Musaffer
: - Director
                           
 
21. Mr. B.S.K. Jayawardena
: - Director
                           
 
22. Mr. J.H. Munidasa
: - Director
                           
 
23. Mr. K.W. Samarasekera
: - Director
                           
                                   
                                   
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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.

2008-2009

Mr. K. Liyanaarachchi
Managing Director,
Liyanarachchi Builders

            
 
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Committees
               
 
A - Committee
    

Tourism Development Committee

            
 
Committee Members
Designation
 
Committee Members
Designation
 
 
 
Mr. Alhaj M.Shaheed Usuph
: - Chairman
  
Mr. Priyankara Wickramasekera
 : - Chairman
 
Mr. I. K. Kumara Jayasinghe
: - Member
  
Mr. Suresh De Mel
 : - Consultant
 
Mr. K. Liyanarachchi
: - Member
  
Mr. Ranjith Muthumala
 : - Member
 
Mr. Sudantha Akmeemena
: - Member
  
Mr. Suresh Fernando
 : - Member
 
 
Mr. Rohan Wanigesinghe
 : - Member
 
 
Mr. Wajira Ilangasinghe
 : - Member
 
Membership Development Committee
 

Mr. Prabath Jayathileke

 : - Member
 
Committee Members
Designation
 
Mr. Jayantha Mannakkara
: - Member
 
 
Mr. M. Ganesha Siriwardena
 : - Member
 
Mr. K. Liyanaarachchi
: - Chairman
HYBP PROJECT EVALUATION COMMITTEE
 
Mr. J. K. A. Samson Abeykoon
: - Member

Committee Members
Designation
 
Mr. Alhaj M. Shaheed Usuph
: - Member
  
Mr. Keerthi Munasinghe
: - Chairman
 
Mr. Sudantha Akmeemena
: - Member
  
Mr. W.K.P.L. Kumara
: - Vice Chairman
 
Mr. I. K. Kumara Jayasinghe
: - Member
  
Mr. J.K.A. Samson Abeykoon
: - Member
       
Mr. Sarath Kaluthota
: - Member
 
HYBP Mentor Coordination Committee
  
Mr. B.S.K. Jayawardane
: - Member
 

Committee Members
Designation
Mr. T.S. Amith
: - Member
 
Mr. Tilar Nadugala
: - Chairman
  
Mr. Hemantha Padmalal
: - Member
 
Mr. Nihal Gunasekera
: - Member
  
Ms. Chandrani Samararathne
: - Member
 
Mr. P.A. Muthukumara
: - Member
  
Mr. P.K. Pathirana
: - Member
 
Mr. S.R.G. Dhammika
: - Member
  
Mr. Premanath Fernando
: - Member
           
 
Mr. N.S. Daluwatte
: - Member
  
Mr. Rohana Ariyaratne
: - Member
           
 
Mr. GaneshaSiriwardena
: - Member
  
Mr. Mohan Alagiyawadu
: - Member
           
 
Our Management Team
 
   
Name
Designation
Email
         
   
Mr. Azmi Thassim
Director General
   
Mr. B. M. Jagath Chinthake
Accountant
   
Mr. S. R. G. Dhammika
Manager - Network Development
   
Ms. Krishanthi Weerasinghe
Manager - Partnership Development
   
Mr. T. M. Fazlim Batcha
Manager - Information Technology
   
Ms. Sudhammika Wickramanayake
Senior Executive - Career Service Centre
   
Ms. Nilanthi Adikaram
Senior Executive - Economic Relation
   
Mr. Piyal Ranawaka
Executive - Membership Development Service
         
   
     
 
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