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| Sunday, 6 January 2002 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Chandra Jayaratne Sri Lankan of the Year The business magazine LMD (Lanka Monthly Digest) has honoured the Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Chandra Jayaratne as its Sri Lankan of the year for 2001. A spokesperson for LMD says that the magazine nominated "the man whose voice has been amongst the leading voices of business this year, because of his leadership qualities, his innovative spirit, his drive and initiative, and most of all, his vision for Sri Lanka". "Chandra Jayaratne has shown a willingness, as the head of the chamber, to think out of the box-and to put Sri Lanka first. His visionary leadership has changed the nature of the chamber, from a body that looked at the narrow interests of its members, to one that sought to change the society around it for the economic and social well-being of the populace. The chamber boss has steered the chamber to new heights, and its influence in and around the island has grown in leaps and bounds," he added. LMD features the chamber chairman on its January 2002 cover, while its cover story comprises a profile of the business leader and an interview with him-in which former Asiaweek correspondent, Arjuna Ranawana, ask a him whether he thinks that the political divisions that exist within business people are difficult to break down. "It would be difficult to break down, as long as there are regulations. That is why we started moving towards secondary reforms as the key to our future. If there is an open regime, a deregulated economy with a deregulated operating environment, then you need to network with government as an agency that facilitates business. If we get that environment, there is no need for networks between politicians and business people Jayarantne responds. LMD pioneered the concept of Sri Lankan of the Year in 1995. It nominated former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar as its first 'Sri Lankan of the Year', for his success in rejuvenating the image of Sri Lanka in the eyes of the world. Arjuna Ranatunga's world-cup winning cricket team in 1996 and Sanath Jayasuriya a year later followed. Business leaders Ken Balendra and Lalith Kotelawala were honoured in 1998 and 1999 respectively, for their business acumen and for leading the business community's for the glory she brought her homeland and for overcoming numerous hurdles on breasting her way to the Olympic tape. |
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