Entrepreneurs felicitated

CNCI achievers awards 2010 :

Media sponsor ANCL :

by Surekha GALAGODA

The ninth CNCI Achiever Awards 2010 for Industrial Excellence organised by the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI) was held last week where 85 industrialists received awards and certificates.

The highlight of the ceremony was the felicitation of entrepreneurs from the North and the East. Chairman Awards Committee Sunil Wijesinhe said that 10 percent of the applications were from the North and East representing Jaffna, Mannar and Batticaloa, a dividend of peace. There were awards for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs who excelled in the SAARC Countries as well while there were awards for SAARC country specific operations. Chairman of CNCI Newton Wickramasooriya said that lending institutions are yet to recognise the skills and talents of an entrepreneur as assets.

When entrepreneurs go to banks to obtain loans they experience immense difficulties. CNCI has its reservations on the CEPA as the FTA signed with India has not benefitted Sri Lanka.

The chief Guest Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratna said that assistance should be given to clever people while value addition is a must to survive in the competitive global market. Guest of Honour, Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana said that our country should pay more attention to research and development as it is a must to forge ahead in the modern world.

He said that in the 1980's the GDP per capita income of Korea was $ 84 while ours was $ 320 but last year Korea was $32,000 while ours was a mere $2,000. The secret is R&D.

The principal sponsor was Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, while the event sponsors were Central Industries, Ceylinco VIP Insurance, and Bank of Ceylon. Award sponsor was Sign Tech Advertising (Pvt) Ltd and the media sponsor was The Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd (ANCL) while the electronic media sponsor was ITN.

Joint gold winner manufacturing ,Ceylon Biscuits Ltd , Director Ramya Wickramasinghe receives the award from Past Chairman CNCI Nihal Abeysekera	Chairman Pahala Uva Agro Products (Pvt) Ltd - L.H.T. De Silva receives his award from Director Editorial ANCL, Seelarathna Senarath.
Winner gold award services sector Chairman RN Constructions receives the award	Joint gold winner manufacturing , Hemas Manufacturing Pvt Ltd , Imal Fonseka
District Winner - Uthayan Micro Irrigation Systems, Vavuniya receives the award from Directress Sign Tech	District Winner - Proprietor Sun Industries Vavuniya, Nasilamani