The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka successfully hosted the Russia–Sri Lanka Business Forum & B2B Meetings on Wednesday, 2 April 2025, at the National Chamber Auditorium in Colombo. The event brought together key stakeholders from both nations to explore opportunities for enhanced trade, economic collaboration, and banking cooperation.
The Russian business delegation, comprising representatives from eight leading organizations, was led by Dr. Alexander Rybas, Trade Commissioner of the Russian Federation in India, and Ms Zlata Antusheva, Chief Specialist – Economic Department of Russian Federation in the Republic of India.
The event was graced by His Excellency L.S. Dzhagaryan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Sri Lanka, alongside key government officials, including:
- Mrs. J.M. Thilaka Jayasundara – Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development
- Mrs. Renuka M. Weerakoone – Director General of the Sri Lanka Board of Investment
- Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe – Chairman/Chief Executive of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board
The forum featured insightful presentations and discussions led by Dr. Alexander Rybas and other distinguished invitees. Delivering his opening remarks, Mr. Anura Warnakulasooriya emphasized that the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka is committed to continuously exploring global opportunities through initiatives like this forum.
Speaking at the ‘Russia–Sri Lanka Development of Trade, Economic, and Banking Cooperation’ session, Mrs. Jayasundara highlighted that eased secondary sanctions, stemming from improved Moscow-Washington dialogue, could unlock favorable trade conditions for Sri Lanka.
His Excellency Ambassador Dzhagaryan, expressed, “Sri Lanka’s balanced, neutral foreign policy positions us to benefit from any collaborative outcomes of U.S.–Russia talks,” his excellency asserted, underscoring the nation’s potential to leverage evolving geopolitics for trade and investment gains. Further assured that the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka is committed to supporting and assisting in overcoming the challenges. “Hopefully, again, step by step, we will try to remove at least some of them. And just in this regard, I would like to assure you that you can rely on our embassy and just we will be also very try to be very useful as much as possible. And we mainly rely on you, your support as assistance,” he noted.
Furthermore, Mrs. Jayasundara urged Sri Lankan trade chambers to work closely with the Export Development Board (EDB) to diversify exports and maximize foreign exchange earnings.
The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, recently emphasized the Government’s renewed commitment to sustainable economic growth and expanding the nation’s footprint in global markets over the next five years. “Our commitment is to enhance competitiveness, foster innovation, and strengthen Sri Lanka’s position in the international trade landscape,” he stated, highlighting a forward-looking strategic plan focused on resilience and global relevance.
Echoing this vision, Ms. Renuka Weerakoon, Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI), reiterated the BOI’s readiness to actively support the growth of export trade and investment. “We see immense potential for the nation’s future, The BOI is prioritizing the development of infrastructure facilities and the allocation of suitable project sites to enable seamless implementation, ultimately contributing to the growth of investments and export earnings,” noted.
The forum concluded with one-on-one B2B meetings, providing Sri Lankan businesses with a valuable platform to connect with Russian counterparts, fostering potential trade and investment partnerships.
