The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is set to lead a high-level corporate delegation to Mumbai on 13 May 2026 for the India–Sri Lanka Business Forum, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry. The visit brings together some of Sri Lanka’s most influential business leaders in what is being positioned as a strategic effort to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations with India.
The delegation represents a wide spectrum of Sri Lanka’s economy, including top executives and chairpersons from key sectors such as banking, manufacturing, energy, logistics, tourism, construction, and information technology. The forum is expected to serve as a platform for direct engagement between Sri Lankan and Indian business communities, with a focus on expanding commercial partnerships and identifying new market opportunities.
The Sri Lankan side will be represented at a senior diplomatic and policy level, with the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonne, scheduled to address the gathering. Senior Economic Advisor to the President, Duminda Hulangamuwa, will deliver the keynote address, outlining Sri Lanka’s current economic direction and areas open for foreign investment. The programme will also include interactive discussions with Indian investors and corporate leaders aimed at fostering practical business outcomes.
The delegation is being led by Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and John Keells Holdings, alongside Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Vice Chairperson of the Chamber and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, and Vinod Hirdaramani, Deputy Vice Chairperson and Chairman of the Hirdaramani Group. Shiran Fernando, Secretary General and CEO of the Chamber, will also participate, reinforcing the institutional focus on strengthening regional economic integration.
Among the participating business leaders are representatives from major Sri Lankan corporations including Maliban Biscuit Manufactories, Sierra Cables PLC, A. Baur & Co., Jetwing Travels, Ceylon Biscuits, Hayleys Advantis, Vidullanka PLC, LTL Holdings, MAS India, Tudawe Brothers, David Pieris Holdings, Bank of Ceylon, Aitken Spence PLC, and OREL IT. Their presence underscores the delegation’s broad industrial representation and the emphasis on cross-sector collaboration.
The India–Sri Lanka Business Forum is expected to feature structured business-to-business meetings and targeted discussions designed to move beyond introductory engagement toward concrete commercial agreements. With both economies showing increasing levels of interaction, the forum aims to translate dialogue into investments, joint ventures, and long-term partnerships.
Supported by institutions including Colombo West International Terminal, A. Baur & Co., and Bank of Ceylon, the initiative reflects ongoing efforts by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to position Sri Lankan businesses within regional value chains. As economic ties between Sri Lanka and India continue to deepen, the Mumbai forum is being viewed as a key step in expanding private sector-led cooperation between the two countries.
