CCC marks 182 years

Governor Stewart Mackenzie, initiated the establishing of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on March 25, 1839, for the purpose of best promoting the interests of commerce. It was among the first group of Chambers established in Asia at the time.

Governor Mackenzie who was deeply interested in promoting Aagriculture and trade adopted the rules and regulations to establish the Chamber with a membership of fourteen individual members and twelve firms. During this first hundred years, the Chamber took a principal interest in the sale of tea and rubber. At the time, nearly all local trading of produce was governed by the founding rules of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Over the past 182 years, the Ceylon Chamber has responded to the needs of the business community that has experienced an evolving landscape from a focus on a few traditional commodities’ trade, to a widely diversified commercial business arena shaped by new consumer needs, export diversification, deeper engagement with countries across the world, fueled by technology and the advent of the digital economy.

The Chamber stands ready to leverage opportunities and adapt to challenges in its path. Whenever the need arose, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has intervened in matters of national importance and provided leadership to gather a collective voice with other Chambers to engage with Government.