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events

Latest News

Krishanthi Weerasinghe appointed as new HDCC CEO

Best Entrepreneur Award 2010

HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DELEGATION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, NOVEMBER 2010

THE PRINCE OF WALES MEETS AWARD-WINNING ENTREPRENEUR FROM SRI LANKA

FOUR AMAZING ENTREPRENEURS REACH YBI ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR FINAL

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (HDCC) AND MANCHESTER SOLUTIONS (MS)

HDCC WINS AWARD AT PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR TRAVEL & TOURISM SRI LANKA 2009

WORLD CHAMBERS COMPETITION 2009" WINNERS ANNOUNCED

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Krishanthi Weerasinghe appointed as new HDCC CEO

As the chamber enters its third decade, Manager – Projects and Strategy Bindu Krishanthi Weerasinghe has taken over the responsibilities of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) with effect from 1 January 2012 and will function as the custodian and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Announcing the appointment, HDCC Director General Azmi Thassim said: “With her proven track record of six years in the chamber, HDCC is very confident that Krishanthi will provide strong leadership to HDCC, and help us better serve the needs and promote the interests of our members as well as of the entire business community and young people in the District.? Thassim added that he would continue to support HDCC on a voluntary basis in his capacity as a Past President and he has now been elected as the President of the Past Presidents’ Consortium. He will also be taking up responsibilities as a consultant and advisor at the request of the management and the board.

Krishanthi served as the head of the Chamber Secretariat after joining the Chamber as an Information Executive in 2005. Krishanthi comes from the Southern Province and qualified from the Moratuwa University with a BSc in Engineering and also gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from the Open University in Milton Keynes, UK. She also worked as a lecturer in the faculty of engineering at the Ruhuna University. During her six years in the Chamber, Krishanthi managed several projects with national and international partners, organized high profile events and took part in numerous international negotiations. She was also directly involved in the Tsunami Reconstruction Initiative for young people and in the formulation of the Women Empowering project. She attended the SIDA International Training Programme "Putting Ideas to Work - Strategies for Innovation-Led Sustainable growth" in Sweden and in Bangkok. She also attended the Gender Diversity and Development certificate course in India.

A few years ago HDCC adopted a policy of gender equality and the Chamber is very pleased that Krishanthi has been unanimously selected as Chief Executive Officer, a very responsible and prestigious position.

This is the first change of the institutional head of HDCC in twenty years as the Founder President Azmi Thassim served as the institutional head from its inception until 31st December 2011.

HDCC President Saheed Usuph said that he is very happy with the achievements of HDCC in the last two decades and confident that Krishanthi and her team will take HDCC to great success and that the organization will soon become a fully self-sustainable organization providing professional services to the business community and young people in the Hambantota District. Krishanthi is supported by the HDCC team which includes Manager IT and Business Development Fazlim Batcha, Manager - Hambantota Job Solutions Sudhammika Wickramanayake, Executive - Hambantota Youth Business Programme, Sanjeewa Guruge, Executive - Admin and Secretariat Kumudnu Ramanayake and the rest of the team of 17 members all with excellent skills and a high team spirit, and who all come from the Hambantota district.

Hambantota District Best Entrepreneur Award 2010

For the 10th year , The Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) in collaboration with the Hambantota District Secretariat and the University of Ruhuna with the support of southern regional access to finance and advisory programme, implemented by the International Finance Cooperation with financial assistance from Royal Norwegian Embassy organised the Hambantota District Best Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Ceremony on the 28th December 2011 at the Hambantota Singapore Conference hall. Dialog Telecom was the Gold Sponsor ,David Pereis Motor Company was the Bronze sponsor & DFCC bank-Matara was a sponsor for the event and many other private companies also corporated with HDCC to make this competition a success.

HDCC was founded in 1993, and was the first Sri Lankan district chamber to be established outside Colombo. HDCC’s vision is to act as the ‘gateway’ for development, and to ensure social cohesion and the economic success of the Hambantota District.The event is designed to encourage the local business community to improve their standards of business practices and to achieve a high level of entrepreneurship. The competition has now become a benchmark and a driving factor for the local business community to look for more ethical approaches towards their businesses.

The representatives from the government, NGO’s and Private institutes will be participated to the event. 36 winners were selected by a panel of judges led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna Prof. Gamini Senanayake and the winners will be announced on the 28th December. The competition was held under the categories of Best Entrepreneur (open), Best Youth Entrepreneur, Best Corporate Social Responsibility Entrepreneur and Best Woman Entrepreneur.

Chief Minister of Southern Province Hon. Shan Wijelal De Silava participated in this awards ceremony as the Chief Guest while Hon Somawansha Kodagoda – Chairman Southern provincial Council and the Hambantoda District Secretary Mr.R.M.D.B. Meegasmulla, Prof. Gamini Senanayake- Deputy Vice Chancellor-University of Ruhuna ,Mr.Suresh De Mel- President of the Association of Small and medium enterprise in tourism Sri Lanka and Ms. Susan Ward, Chief party of USAID ARD SuRG project attended as special guests. .

Mr.W.H.Gamini, Managing Director of W.H.G. Group of Companies pvt ltd, Tissamaharama was crowned as the Hambantota District Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 ( Platinum award) at the Awards ceremony

Under the open competition category, Mr.Dhammika Liyanapathirana – Managing Director of the Dahmmika trade centre, Middeniya, Mr.N.G.Manjula Nishantha – Managing Director of Malindu Dairies pvt Ltd, Angunukolapelessa, Mr.D.M.K. Kamalsiri – Managing Director of Business Creation Gaurent Ltd, Tangalle and the Mr.N.G.Gamage of Proprietor of Melani Arts, Hambantota were awarded as the best entrepreneurs (Gold winners), representing the extra large, large, medium and the small scale businesses respectively.

The gold awards for the best corporate social responsibility entrepreneur, the Best Women entrepreneur and the Best Youth entrepreneur of the year were won by Mr. Nihal Asoka Egodage – Managing Director Asoka Industries, Kirama and Ms. Dilani Sandamini, proprietor of Dilani Beauty Saloon, Hambantota and Mr.Dinesh Suranga – Proprietor Srimali Marketing products, Warapitiya respectively

There were 7 gold award winners 6 Silver award winners 12 bronze award winners, 5 copper winners and 04 merit winners.Parallel to the Entrepreneur award ceremony, HDCC organised a Business Night.

Mr. Azmi Thassim, Director General

“Honoring and encouraging entrepreneurs is the main objective of our competition and over the last decades we have achieved a lot and we will continue this work for the betterment of our community and the region.”

Prof. Gamini Senanayaka

“I appreciate the effort of HDCC, as they took the initiative of organizing this kind of activity in the region, though it is currently, limited to the Hamabntota district. It is a great pleasure to extend our University’s contribution to this event. With the consent of the Vice Chancellor, University of Ruhuna has volunteered as the judge panel of this event for few years, with my leadership. Even in this year, academic staff from different faculties, according to the relevancy of the sectors of the competition, were engaged in evaluating the businesses of the applicants. I see this activity not as a competition, but a forum, where the university and the industries interact with each other, share their experience, expertise and enhance the relationship among them. As the centre for knowledge in the Southern Province, it is our responsibility to contribute the University’s effort and resources for such kind of activities taking place in the region. “

Together we achieved

HDCC celebrated the completion of eighteen years of collaboration between the Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE) and the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC). The event was held on the 24th November, in Hambantota.

The relationship between HDCC and RNE extends back to 1993, and has been an extremely positive one for both sides. Over the last ten years RNE has, under a number of agreements, provided a significant proportion of the funding that HDDC has needed in order to serve the business community, and also to support it in its work to enhance the overall economic status of the Hambantota District. As well as working to enhance the capacity of HDCC to fulfil its primary mission, RNE and HDCC have worked together on other major projects in the district and region, most notably on tsunami relief and in the provision of access to financial services for the region’s SME communities.

HDCC has taken this opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our long-term relationship. With the support of RNE and other partners HDCC shared the key achievements and lessons learned over the course of the relationship, as we look to the future. The Norwegian Ambassador, H.E. Hilde Haraldstad and Hon. U.D.Ariyathilaka, Minister of Economic Promotions, Social Welfare & Employment of Southern Provincial Council participated as the chief guest and special guest respectively.

RNE officials, HDCC's board of directors, management, a cross-section of members and representatives from HDCC partner organizations such as WUSC, VSO, World Vision, Navajeewana, University of Ruhuna, RUEDA, Ruhunu Tourism Bureau, Esoft, Dialog, DFCC bank, and HNB bank participated .

The President of HDCC Mr.M.S.Usuph welcomed the gathering, mentioning that as the private sector of the Hambantota District we have come a long way and throughout the Royal Norwegian Embassy had been a great strength to us.

Remarks by Ambassador HE Hilde

Norwegian Embassy has been pleased to support HDCC in last 18 years and we have seen many positive results. Future ambitions of this part of the country are quite impressive. Many opportunities available for private sector and public-private partnership. It is crucial to have such a strong chamber of commerce. We have positive achievements. HDCC is continuing greater service to the business community , providing business advice, development of enterprises, capacity building of small businesses. Norway-HDCC financial relationship come to end, but the Norway-Chamber relationship will continue more than 100 years. Work together in other ways and other means. Norway has always been traditional bilateral donor, now it has changed because Sri Lanka has become a middle income level country. We are gradually phasing out our bilateral aid and we are focusing on private sector cooperation between Sri Lanka and Norway, the education field, and more reciprocal cooperation and relationships. We are proud of the results we have achieved together.

Remarks by Minister

Private-Public organisations must get together to develop the country. Hambantota is very fortunate with the Seaport coming up,Airport and various development activities take in place. HDCC will have to play a more prominent role in the development of the district.

Prof.D. Attapattu of University of Ruhuna

Integrated Rural Development Project was initiated in response to persistent economic backwardness in the rural areas .First phase of the Hambantota Integrated Rural Development Project (HIRDP) emphasis was more on infrastructure development and at the second phase emphasis was changed and more focused on enterprise development and income generation activities. Establishment of HDCC in 1993 was one of the main outcomes of the project. Over the last 18 years visionary leadership and the commitment of HDCC staff has enabled us to today’s position and HDCC is an exemplary model.

Dr.Dayan Rajapaksha, Managing Director , ESOFT

We are looking for reliable strong partner from Hambantota area and Esoft entered in to a partnership agreement with HDCC to implement IT Education Centre. This was the first institute where service organization like HDCC wanted to partner with us.

Ms. Ruvanthi Sivapragasam, Acting Country Director -VSO Sri Lanka mentioned about HDCC’s unique response, an organisation which makes maximum use of our volunteers – even beyond the placement - which is precisely what VSO would like to see happening throughout the world. An organisation which provides personal and pastoral care for the volunteers thereby enabling them to settle in Hambantota with ease and work effectively, an organisation with a highly participative Board of Directors. The continued involvement of Past Presidents, a visionary and dynamic Director General, a team of energetic and committed young staff, a “Learning Organisation” – one which values immensely the support given by VSO and uses the opportunity effectively to enhance and improve itself continuously.

Mr. Azmi Thassim, Director General of HDCC pointed out that we will continue to be a professional and 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.

Ms. Krishanthi Weerasinghe, Manager Strategy and Projects of HDCC, thanked the Royal Norwegian Embassy and People of the Norway for their support and encouragement since its inception in 1990 as an association.

Representatives of large businesses appreciated HDCC’s facilitation and coordination role on behalf of them. SME’s appreciated the support they received such as technical, marketing and business development. Young people helped by the Youth Business Programme appreciated the financial support they received from HDCC to start up businesses along with volunteer business mentor concept. The stakeholders of the project presented the case studies and their experience with RNE and other participants.

Download Related Article

HDCC started AAT in Hambantota to provide Professional Accountancy Qualifications

There are many Government, private and professional institutions who provide professional/tertiary education to the younger generation of the country to meet the demands of the ever changing, challenging and modernizing world. The Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) has been identified in the Professional fields to have a high demand for professional education in order to enter the job market.

Association of Accounting Technicians of Sri Lanka (AATSL), a Professional Accountancy body in the field of Accountancy and Commerce, provides middle level Accountants with qualifications that meet the demand for accounting/audit personnel in private and public sector organizations in the country. HDCC in collaboration with AATSL started courses on the 6th August 2011 at HDCC premises to prepare young people in the district to face Foundation, Intermediate & Final AAT examinations.

HDCC signed an agreement with ESOFT to implement franchise branch in Hambantota

HDCC signed an agreement with ESOFT international Education to implement its franchise branch in Hambantota under the management of HDCC to conduct courses in Certificate & Diploma Computer courses in programming, web designing, multimedia, hardware, networking, Microsoft Certification . ESOFT has emerged as the Leader in Professional ICT Education. HDCC is planning to strart the courses by end of September.

British High Commissioner’s visit to Hambantota

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, HE John Rankin visited Hambantota on the 5th and 6th April 2011. The High Commissioner was very keen on visiting some of the ongoing development projects in view of the upcoming commonwealth Games and Sri Lanka’s bid to promote Hambantota. The Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) facilitated British High Commissioner’s visit and introduced them to various development projects in Hambantota.

High Commissioner visited Cricket Stadium, Airport, Seaport, upcoming Asian beach site , proposed hotel sites in the Hambantota District and the District Secretariat for a courtesy meeting with the District Secretary Mr.RMDB Meegasmulla.

During the visit the High Commissioner took the opportunity to exchange views and obtain background knowledge and information about HDCC, its activities and the development projects taking place in the Hambantota District.

HDCC organised a luncheon meeting and it represented by the President-Mr.Kumara Jayasinghe, Senior Vice president -Mr. Alhaj M. Shaheed Usuph, a cross section of members -Lanka Fishing Flies Pvt Ltd ,HNB & Seylan Banks, Vinseth Engineering Pvt Ltd,Kane Apparel Pvt Ltd and the senior management- Mr.Azmi Thassim, Ms.Krishanthi Weerasinghe , Mr.Fazlim Batcha of HDCC.

High Commissioner said, "I am looking forward to doing my modest bit to promote and build bilateral relations between UK and Sri Lanka and also we want to increase investment opportunities.

HE noted: "Today, with the dawn of peace, we are seeing a great momentum in the interest to trade and invest in Sri Lanka. The frequency of outward business delegations to Sri Lanka has increased. UK is the second largest investor in Sri Lanka as the second major overseas Buyer”.

High Commissioner is very keen to provide technical support for the Hambantota District in particular and to the Southern Region in general through British Council to enhance the English Language Skills.

HE also visited Fathuma Nisreen , a beneficiary of the Hambantota Youth Business Programme of HDCC, who was the winner of the YBI Entrepreneur competition in 2010.

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HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DELEGATION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, NOVEMBER 2010

HDCC organised a business delegation to the United Kingdom to enhance the knowledge of 21 Hambantota District business people about business opportunities in the UK, and also to give them the opportunity to travel around the country and experience a different culture. This was extremely important to them since the Hambantota District is undergoing such a significant change with its new developments including a Deep Sea Port, International Airport and Cricket Stadium.

The mission was organised with the support of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) and its service delivery arm Manchester Solutions (MS). The delegation was led by Mr.Azmi Thassim, Director General, HDCC .

The tour began with a meeting with the mayor of the city of Manchester. The highlight for our delegation was the historic involvement of the private sector and the involvement of the industry to success of the region. Our team also experienced the Visitor Centre in Manchester and the Manchester United Football Complex and it gave an idea as to how it functions and also the economy around the venue.

On the 3rd of November UKTI and GMCC organised a “Spotlight on Sri Lanka” event in Manchester which featured the member delegation from HDCC; the event was attended by UK businesses and industrial companies. Mr. Thassim briefed the gathering on the rising investment sectors open for foreign direct investment, as well as private-public partnerships and joint ventures in the Hambantota District. He also emphasised the links forged between HDCC and GMCC which won the “Best Networking Award” at the 6th World Chamber Congress for the working partnership established between MS and HDCC. Since the tsunami hit Sri Lanka in 2004 MS has provided technical assistance to HDCC aimed at strengthening its capacity to play a major role in the economic development of the Hambantota District.

The Trade Section of the Sri Lanka High Commission provided a detailed presentation on business opportunities in Sri Lanka followed by a case study on doing business in Sri Lanka by UK Company M/s. Cargo Overseas which established a branch office in Sri Lanka in August last year. UKTI North West focused on the prospects for attracting commercial opportunities in the industrial regions of Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria which consists of over 250,000 businesses. The region has a population of 7 million and is ranked second in the UK for international trade.

The Hambantota delegation went on to Edinburgh and they met its Youth Business counterparts in Scotland.The Chamber is playing a major role in the development of tourism in the Hambantota District and Sri Lanka's Southern Region and the delegation visited Bath, Bristol and Edinburgh to experience the ways in which the tourist attractions in those cities are presented and managed.

On the 8th of November The Sri Lanka High Commission in London hosted a networking reception with the Sri Lankan diaspora in the UK and representatives of local Chambers of Commerce. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner, in his welcome address , noted the pioneering nature of HDCC's history since 1990, its incorporation as a district chamber in 1993, and the strategic and pivotal role it could play in the mega development and economic projects taking place in the Hambantota District. He noted that today, in the aftermath of the peace, we are seeing a great momentum in international interest to trade and invest in Sri Lanka. He noted that the frequency of outward business delegations to Sri Lanka has increased significantly. The UK has become the second largest source for tourists next to India, and accounts for 30% of tourist related earnings in Sri Lanka. Last year the UK was the second largest investor in Sri Lanka .

The delegation visited the World Travel Market tourism event on the 9th November in London and had the opportunity to meet Sri Lankan companies and also to promote the HDCC campaign “Southern Deep South” to highlight our region as wonderful tourist destination for their clients. During the visit the HDCC President, the immediate past President and Mr.Thassim had an opportunity to visit the Youth Business International office in London.

THE PRINCE OF WALES MEETS AWARD-WINNING ENTREPRENEUR FROM SRI LANKA

HRH The Prince of Wales met an award-winning young entrepreneur from Sri Lanka, Fathuma Nisreen ,a beneficiary of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC)’s Youth Business Programme (HYBP) which is the Hambantota District Programme of the Youth Business Sri Lanka (YBSL), at a dinner in London held in his capacity of President of Youth Business International (YBI) on the 18th November 2010.
Fathuma Nisreen, who rans women’s bags and clothes company Ramsi Fashion in Hambantota, is a beneficiary of Youth Business Sri Lanka and was named as the YBI Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 earlier this year. The Prince met Fathuma at a dinner held for supporters of YBI, a global network that helps young people start their own business and which was founded by The Prince in 2000.
Fathuma, who said when she won her award in September that it was her dream to meet The Prince of Wales, has been a role model for women in her local community. She is one of the few women who have started up a business in Hambantota and she has been able to show that women can be successful in business without sacrificing their religious and cultural identity.
She won the award after being interviewed by a judging panel of experts on business and entrepreneurship at the awards final in Mexico.
As well as the chance to meet The Prince of Wales, Fathuma received prize money of $5,000 from Youth Business International.
The dinner took place at St James’s Palace and was part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, a global campaign taking place this week in 104 countries. YBI is a global partner of the campaign and much of its global network is involved in initiatives during the week.

Young Sri Lankan woman wins prestigious Global Entrepreneurship competition of Youth Business International

Fathuma Nisreen, a beneficiary of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC)’s Youth Business Programme (HYBP) which is the Hambantota District Programme of the Youth Business Sri Lanka (YBSL), and owner of a small Bag and Garment making business in Hambantota called Ramsi Fashion, has been named the winner of an international competition for Young Entrepreneurs, organised by Youth Business International (YBI), which is a Charity under a Trust set up by the Price of Wales.

Youth Business Sri Lanka (www.ybsl.lk) is an accredited programme of Youth Business International (YBI), and provides financing for youth to start a viable business idea and provides advice through a voluntary mentor. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is the custodian of national programme and houses the YBSL Secretariat.

The Sri Lankan Business Woman was announced as the YBI Entrepreneur of the Year on the 23rd September 2010 at a prestigious awards ceremony in Mexico City, after being interviewed by a judging panel of experts on business and entrepreneurship.

In a joint statement, the panel said: “We chose Fathuma because the award will have the biggest impact on her, her family, her community and send a strong message to the world that women are able to start a business while remaining true to their family values. We thought it was remarkable that she was able to start up her business without having to give up her religious and cultural identity.
Overall, we found in Fathuma the courage to overcome tough times, the intelligence to maintain the family as her main motivator, the vision to grow and most of all, the happiness of building a successful business.”

The YBI Entrepreneur of the Year competition celebrates the achievement of young entrepreneurs around the world in building a better world for themselves and others. The competition attracts hundreds of applicants from around the world, is supported by Barclays Capital and is now in its fourth year. Fathuma Nisreen has become a role model in her community for her successes in overcoming the restrictions facing Muslim women entering into business, by setting up a design and manufacturing enterprise specialising in traditional outfits and bags. She was able to start up her business with the support of HYBP of YBSL, an accredited member of the YBI network.

The HDCC collaborated with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) to form the Youth Business Sri Lanka in 2007, and is now implemented in six districts. Initial support was provided by International Alert and later CCC was successful in reaching other donors to expand the programme. YBSL is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising leading business persons of Sri Lanka.
The role of the mentor is a unique feature of this project. Fathuma received technical training from Ms.Amali Asurage of Tangalle who is a Trainer in Handicraft and tailoring. Fathuma was directed to HYBP by Amali and she has been serving as her mentor since the inception of her business and her guidance and monitoring greatly helped to establish a successful business and to win an international award.

Fathuma was competing in the finals against three other young entrepreneurs, who were the respective category winners in the competition. They were Colin Davison from Canada, with Stealth Acoustical Control & Emission Inc, whose business enables industrial businesses to reduce noise pollution and employs around 60 other people, Alex Tam and Felix Chung from Hong Kong whose business Ecosage Ltd, is helping to tackle the waste crisis in Hong Kong with their recycling business, as well as creating employment for many of the city’s ragpickers, and Shriram Kaluke from India, whose business Shri Ganesh Enterprise has grown under very difficult conditions, into a business providing cleaning services for water tanks, employing 14 people and servicing 1500 clients.
An emotional Fathuma thanked the YBI for the recognition bestowed on her, and paid tribute to her husband who supported her every effort, along with her Mentor Amail, and the Hambatota Youth Business Programme, which helped her get off the ground. She said her wanted her award to serve as an inspiration to many other women to venture into the world of entrepreneurship, and she recalled the great difficulties and tragedies she had to overcome during the Tsunami time when her husband’s Welding Business was destroyed, and they lost many family members. These challenges inspired her to greater heights and she was greatly appreciative of HRH. Prince Charles, for having set up a Trust of this nature.

There to witness the joyful occasion was Ms.Amali Asurage, the Mentor of Fathuma and Mr. Mohomed Ramsi ,Fathuma’s husband,. Also attending the event in different capacities were Mr.Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Country Manager of Microsoft SL, who is a Trustee of YBSL and also a Board representative of YBI- Mr.Harin Malwatta, the CEO/Secretary General of CCC, and Mr.Sujeewa Rathnakumara, the programme Manager,YBSL-.

Fathuma will receive prize money of US$5,000 from Youth Business International, as well as an invitation to travel to London for a dinner at St James’s Palace, which last year was hosted by The Prince of Wales. The distinguished judging panel comprised of Guillermo Baeza, co-founder of Mexican food company Grupo Bafar, Pedro Tejero, Managing Director of Barclays Capital Mexico, Stuart Macdonald, founder of Seric Systems in Scotland and Brand Ambassador for YBI, and Laura Suarez, Editorial Director of Entrepreneur magazine in Mexico.

HDCC WINS AWARD AT PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR TRAVEL & TOURISM SRI LANKA 2009

At the 3rd Travel & Tourism Presidential Awards ceremony held on June 15th 2010 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre, Colombo the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) was announced as the winner of the Local Destination Development –Provincial Tourism project category.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Economic Development in partnership with Sri Lanka Tourism in order to recognise and reward excellence among industry stakeholders both past and present, and to encourage and ensure an even greater contribution in the future to the sustainable development of the tourism industry.

After the devastation of the tsunami in December 2004, the tourism industry in the Hambantota District suffered a huge setback, with many tourism businesses destroyed or very badly damaged. With the support of grants, loans and other facilitations, some of the businesses were able to rebuild and start operations again. However, visitor numbers have not recovered to the levels that they had reached before the tsunami, largely because of the security situation in the country. Now, with the end of the war and the easing of the security situation, the time is right to increase the marketing of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and, in particular, for HDCC to accelerate its promotion of the unique attractions of the Hambantota district to overseas visitors

‘Deep South’ is the creative theme of the HDCC’s tourism development project which seeks to promote the Hambantota District as a prime tourist destination. The HDCC had undertaken a number of activities to uplift the tourism industry in the district with the active participation and assistance from Mercy Corps and technical support from UK-basedManchester Solutions. Tourism development is an important component of the HDCC - Manchester Solutions partnership project which has been in place since 2005.

World Chambers Competition 2009" winners announced

At a special ceremony held on June 5 at the 6th World Chamber Congress in Kuala Lumpur, the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce and its UK partner the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce/Manchester Solutions were announced as winners of the Best Networking Project category. Their post tsunami chamber project beat off strong international competition to win the award.

Mr Drew Thomas, Deputy Chief Executive of Manchester Solutions said, ‘We are all very pleased that our joint work achieved this recognition and I hope that the award will be a springboard for greater prominence for our work and the work of our respective organisations’.

Mr.Azmi Thassim, Director General of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce said, ‘This achievement is a result of good work done through the partnership between HDCC and Manchester Solutions. We are very happy at this significant achievement’.

Best Networking Project:

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce for their
Post-Tsunami Chamber Cooperation project