Welcome to the Sri Lankan Business Council!
The Sri Lankan Business Council in Dubai & Northern Emirates was formed in the year 1991 under the umbrella of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai & Northern Emirates. Later it evolved into a registered Business Council under the auspices of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the year 2004.
The SLBC has grown into an organization consisting of Sri Lankan Entrepreneurs and Senior Professionals in the UAE as its Individual Members and a number of organizations interested in Sri Lankan business as its Corporate Members.
Our
History
The Sri Lankan Business Council (SLBC) in Dubai & Northern Emirates was formed in the year 1991 under the umbrella of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai in the UAE. Later it evolved into a registered Business Council under the auspices of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the year 2004.
Our
Mission
To foster robust trade relationships between Sri Lanka and the UAE by uniting the business community, facilitating mutual opportunities, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Our
Vision
o become the benchmark for dynamic business councils, inspiring emulation through our innovative approaches and impactful contributions to bilateral trade and investment between Sri Lanka and the UAE.
Chairman’s Message
I am deeply honored and humbled to share with you that I have been re-elected as the Chairman of the Sri Lankan Business Council (SLBC).
Your trust and support mean the world to me, and I am committed to steering SLBC towards greater heights of success and inclusivity.
As we embark on this journey together, I am thrilled to announce some pivotal developments aimed at enhancing our council’s impact and fostering inclusiveness within our community.
Firstly, I am delighted to share that we are redoubling our efforts to increase women’s participation within SLBC. Recognizing the invaluable contributions of our female members, I have appointed a Co-Vice Chairperson for the Ladies Wing, elevating a Board Director to this esteemed position. Additionally, we have expanded the representation of female Board Directors from one to three, constituting one-third of our current Board. This step underscores our unwavering commitment to gender parity, diversity and inclusivity.
Furthermore, I am pleased to announce a significant expansion in our representation from the country’s capital, Abu Dhabi. We have increased our Board presence from one to three members, underscoring the strategic importance of this region in fostering stronger ties between Sri Lanka and the UAE.
At the core of our vision lies the principle of inclusiveness. I firmly believe that diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enriches our collective journey and propels us towards greater success. It is my earnest desire to see inclusiveness ingrained as a cornerstone of our council’s future endeavors.
In line with our commitment to driving industry-centric solutions, we are establishing sub-committees aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by businesses in Sri Lanka and the UAE. These committees will work closely with the Board of Directors to devise strategies that foster growth, innovation, and resilience within our respective industries.
Additionally, we are steadfast in our resolve to expand our membership base and enhance bilateral trade between our nations. Through collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships, we aim to create a conducive environment for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
As we embark on this journey, I am cognizant of the importance of succession planning within our Board of Directors. It is imperative that we nurture talent, groom future leaders, and ensure a seamless transition of leadership to sustain SLBC’s momentum and vision.
In closing, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support and dedication to the Sri Lankan Business Council. Together, let us chart a path of inclusivity, innovation, and prosperity, as we strive to realize our collective aspirations.
With warm regards,
Suren Swaminathan
Chairman
Sri Lankan Business Council – Dubai and the Northern Emirates
UPCOMING EVENTS
LATEST NEWS
I have been very closely associated with the SLBC of Dubai from Aug 2014 to Oct 2017 in my capacity as the Director ( Middle East/Gulf/N.Africa) attached to the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai. The SLBC has been always a tower of strength to the Consulate & the Mission by playing an active role in virtually all the social and economic events where Sri Lanka needed to be portrayed.
I am an Architect by profession and the CEO of Home Makers (Pvt) Ltd, a design and build company in Colombo, Sri Lanka. We recently initiated an Interior Design company in Dubai and registered as HM Design Services Co. in June 2022. In my initial visit to establish the company I met Mr. Suren Swaminathan, a veteran Sri Lankan Business person in UAE and invited me to join the Sri Lankan Business Council.
I became a member of this prestigious association and SLBC has opened up opportunities to meet up with fellow members in the council and to build a vast network in a short period of time. It has immensely helped me in establishing my self as well as giving me opportunities to initiate ground up work in making a brand awareness of the products and services that we provide in Sri Lanka and in UAE.
Sri Lanka Business Council in Dubai & Northern Emirates (SLBC) is the oldest formally registered Sri Lankan organization which was formed in the year 1991 under the umbrella of the Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and subsequently registered under the auspices of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the year 2004 providing an active platform for entrepreneurs and professionals to promote their endeavours.
I had the opportunity to work very closely with the SLBC ever since I assumed duties as the Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai & Northern Emirates in October 2015 and was glad to witness the valuable initiatives undertaken by the SLBC throughout my tenure to promote broader commercial interests of the entrepreneurs and professionals.
Additionally, SLBC without hesitations joined hands with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka to Dubai & Northern Emirates to support all major initiatives undertaken to promote broader interest of Sri Lanka and her citizens living in Dubai & Northern Emirates.
The assistance extended by the SLBC was highly commendable towards Sri Lanka and her citizens in many natural disasters occurred during my tenures, spearheading offering of timely disaster recovery assistance.
While appreciating very much the commendable role that the SLBC played over the years in strengthening bilateral commercial relation between Sri Lanka and the UAE ever since its inception, I wish SLBC all the very best for its future endevours.
Lying at the hub of many shipping lanes joining the West, the Middle East, the Far East as well as Africa and Australia, Colombo has been recognised the world over as the hub port in South Asia. Colombo Dockyard is the island's leading Ship repair, Shipbuilding and Heavy Engineering facility, located inside the Port of Colombo. Shipyard operates 04 graving dry-docks with a maximum capacity of 125,000 Dwt. Colombo Dockyard was looking at expanding our operational footprint and was reaching out for a reliable partner in the UAE and found the Sri Lankan Business Council-Dubai, with its local expertise and reliable contacts as the ideal facilitator to meet our objectives. Thank you SLBC for all your guidance and due diligence carried out at a swift pace and for allowing us to successfully, conclude an effective agreement with our associates in the UAE. Wishing the SLBC team all the success in future endeavours.
