The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, for a courtesy meeting with its leadership to discuss opportunities for trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United States.
Ambassador Chung met with Chairman Krishan Balendra, Vice Chairman Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Deputy Vice Chairman Vinod Hirdaramani, Secretary General and CEO Buwanekabahu Perera, and other representatives of the Chamber. She congratulated Mr. Balendra on his appointment as Chairman and reiterated the U.S. Embassy’s commitment to strengthening engagement with the Ceylon Chamber, recognizing its role as a key representative of Sri Lanka’s private sector.
During the discussions, Ambassador Chung praised the Sri Lankan Government for its collaborative negotiations with the United States aimed at achieving a fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade relationship. She highlighted Sri Lanka’s strategic regional trade position and the potential to attract increased U.S. business interest amid shifts in global trade dynamics. The Ambassador encouraged Sri Lanka to capitalize on this opportunity by improving trade facilitation, reducing non-tariff barriers, and enhancing competitiveness.
Chairman Balendra noted the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to work with the Government to improve the ease of doing business and to proactively address challenges in attracting foreign investment. He invited the United States to participate in the upcoming Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit, organized by the Chamber, scheduled for 2nd and 3rd December at the Shangri-La, Colombo. Ambassador Chung extended a reciprocal invitation for the Ceylon Chamber to coordinate a business delegation to the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland, U.S., from 3rd to 6th May 2026.
The discussion also covered tourism, a sector with significant growth potential. Both sides acknowledged opportunities in this area, with Mr. Balendra emphasizing coordinated destination marketing and Ambassador Chung highlighting the importance of infrastructure improvements to support increased tourism inflows.
The Ceylon Chamber and the U.S. Embassy pledged to maintain close engagement, building on ongoing cooperation to expand trade, attract investment, and strengthen bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United States.
