The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka held its press conference on 30th August 2022 at Hotel Jetwing, Colombo 07 to recognize and felicitate sponsors and media in association with the upcoming Annual Export Awards of the Chamber. 

The Chamber is celebrating the Pearl Anniversary of the Exports Awards this year, completing 30 years of success, under the chosen theme “Recognizing, Inspiring and Strengthening” – a 30 years of unbroken commitment to Sri Lankan Exporters on 02nd December 2022 at Hotel Shangri-La, Colombo. 

The Annual Export Awards ceremony, organized by the NCE serves to recognize and reward Sri Lankan Exporters of products and services and also service providers to exporters, on their performance in the international market. 
This prestigious event has achieved national significance as the most looked forward to event in the business calendar of Sri Lanka. 

The Chamber is proud to announce that this event has been conducted without any disruption for the last 29 years’ even amidst numerous challenges.

The NCE by recognizing the best performers in exports have immensely contributed towards creating a positive mindset and uplifting spirits of fellow exporters of this nation.  

The Chamber last year, introduced the NCE Challenge Trophy” awarded in respect of organizations who perform ethical trading practices under Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large categories.  This year too, winners will be conferred this award as well as other sectoral awards and special awards. In ensuring the highest professional standards in the evaluation process of applications, the Chamber has implemented improvements through close monitoring and analyzing the current needs of the Global Market. 

Delivering the welcome speech at the event, Mr Ravi Jayawardena, President of the NCE stated that exporters have done a great service to the country during this troublesome period with lingering issues of shortage of foreign currency, fuel and energy and many other social dilemmas. It is sensible that the country recognizes the resilience with which the exporters perform against all odds being the saving grace of the nation by bringing the much needed foreign exchange to the country. As a country, together we have to support and encourage them to do better in the future. 

He further highlighted the importance of developing Sri Lanka as an export led economy. He urged the government to Resurrect the Export Council of Ministers which was started during Minister Athulathmudali’’s time. 

As done by the then Head of State J R Jayawardene, to share meetings with all ministers, deputy ministers and secretaries together with exporters to discuss all export related issues which can be resolved with the intervention of the relevant authorities.

He said that the majority of the people were subsidizing 1.5 million of State sector employees and half of them are unproductive. Jayawardena questioned as to why not allow five years no pay leave to those government employees to find alternate employment in the private sector or to become entrepreneurs so that the burden on the government could be reduced.

He also highlighted the importance of creating employment opportunities for the younger generation within the shortest possible time and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector plays a vital role in supporting this cause. 
 

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