Sri Lanka employers’ body offers expertise to regions

Oct 07, 2011 (LBO) - The Employers' Federation of Ceylon, which represents Sri Lankan companies, plans to extend its services to businesses outside the capital by tying up with business chambers in the island's outlying regions. The EFC has signed agreements with the Yarlpanam Chamber of Commerce and Industries in northern Jaffna and the southern Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce as the first step to extending its services to businesses across the island.

"The EFC already represents a wide variety of industries from plastics to plantations and practically the entire financial and service sector to name a few," a statement said.

"However up until now, its membership has been fairly Colombo-centric."

The new initiative with the chambers in Hambantota and Jaffna would support businesses, mostly small and medium enterprises, in two of the most neglected regions of the island which is recovering from a 30-year ethnic war that ended in 2009.

If we had not had 30 years of war, Jaffna would be flush like Singapore, said K Poornachandran, chairman, Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlpanam.

The EFC’s skills in advising on labour law would be useful to members of the Jaffna business chamber.