📈 Ameena Ziauddin Appointed President of Council for Business with Britain (CBB)

The CBB, under The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, held its 26th AGM to foster trade and investment ties between Sri Lanka and the UK. • New Leadership: Ameena Ziauddin (Norfolk Foods) elected President for 2026–2027. Supported by Senior VP Shiluka Goonewardene (KPMG) and VP Fadhil Jiffry (LSEG). • UK-SL Trade: High Commissioner Andrew Patrick highlighted the benefits of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). • Market Access: The DCTS provides zero-tariff access for Sri Lankan exports, with January 2026 reforms specifically boosting the apparel & textiles sector's competitiveness. • Growth Drivers: Increased British tourist arrivals and improved aviation connectivity were cited as key factors strengthening commercial linkages. • Strategic Focus: The outgoing committee emphasized the success of the NextGen and SME platform, aimed at empowering young professionals and entrepreneurs to drive future economic collaboration. The council remains committed to leveraging trade schemes to diversify exports and deepen the economic partnership between the two nations.