Financial Times

Social issues to drive ST Business Club
The Sunday Times Business Club, which has raised its profile in recent years with a wide range of issues being discussed at meetings by top business personalities in addition to a host of socially responsible activities taking place, is planning the same growth path this year – discussing and debating social issues relating to business and society.

Chaturanga Perera, newly elected president of the club, said the club would expand its activities this year and acknowledged and accepted the views of another member who requested that the club continue in getting speakers outside the business community who could discuss issues on society and governance. “We can widen our horizon and improve professionally by this exposure,” he said.

He was speaking at the annual general meeting of the club where a new executive committee was elected for the 2005-2006 year. In addition to Perera, others in the new committee are – Nishan Silva (Vice President), Anura Perera (Secretary), Ms Fazla Bahaudeen (Treasurer), Sanjeewa Samaranayake (Past President) and members -- Senaka Weerasekara, Viranjan Karunaratna, Michael Benedict, Madhawa Gunaratna and Amal Fernando.

Samaranayake, in his speech as outgoing president, said the club had a very successful 2004-2005 year in which young and prominent business leaders like Ken Balendra, Hemaka Amarasuriya, Malik Fernando (Dilmah) and Ashraff Omar making presentations on interesting topics ranging from leadership, human resources issues, marketing a Sri Lankan brand internationally to the garments’ industry and the Multi Fibre Arrangement.

The club also organized a public workshop to raise funds for a tsunami Project and the proceeds were used to donate a set of tables to an affected school in Ahangama.

Samaranayake, who shouldered many responsibilities during the year, said the Community Leader Award organized by the club together with the CIMA and the JKH group was a landmark event that was accomplished successfully during the year.

“This tremendously raised the image of the club and I feel is one of the biggest achievements of the club in its 10 year-long history,” he added.
The club is hosted by the Trans Asia Hotel and co-sponsored by Ceylon Brewery Ltd, makers of Carlsberg beer.

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