Sri Lanka- Canada Business Council

What Sri Lanka- Canada Business Council does

The Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council (SLCBC), established on August 14, 1991, is a non-profit bilateral trade and investment promotion body that operates under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It serves Sri Lankan and Canadian businesses seeking cross-border trade, investment, joint ventures, education pathways, and institutional partnerships, and reports a membership base of over 140 companies. Its core activities are event- and membership-driven: the council organizes trade and investment missions to Canada, business forums and networking sessions in Sri Lanka, education fairs, MOUs with Canadian institutions, and an annual general meeting now in its 34th iteration. Strategic activities concentrate in sectors such as agriculture and agri-food, education and student mobility, and tourism promotion.

SLCBC's business model is subscription-based and membership-funded, generating recurring revenue through fees from over 140 member companies that gain access to trade facilitation services, networking events, investment forums, and bilateral business matching. The council distributes its services through its affiliation with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce's network, supplemented by direct events, social media channels (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram), a website (srilankacanadabiz.lk), earned media, and email communications. It holds no technology products or proprietary platforms; the underlying "infrastructure" is its institutional relationships — including the Canada Sri Lanka Business Convention, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka, Canadian universities, and Sri Lankan provincial governments.

The council's go-to-motion is event-driven, with bilateral engagements anchored in formal MOUs and government-supported missions. Recent strategic activity includes a nine-member trade mission to Canada (October 2024), MOUs with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (2023) and University of Regina (2025), and discussions with the Global Institute for Food Security and University of Saskatchewan on agri-tech and research collaboration. Leadership transitioned in 2025, with M.H.K.M. Hameez succeeding Priyantha Chandrasekara as President. The organization is expanding sub-nationally into Sri Lanka's Northern, Eastern, and Puttalam regions through the Regional Excellence Awards 2026 and related education and investment forums.

Name

Sri Lanka- Canada Business Council

Legal name

Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council

Website

https://srilankacanadabiz.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council is a non-profit, bilateral trade and investment promotion body established in 1991, operating under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo to serve 140+ member companies through trade missions, business forums, education fairs, and MOUs linking Sri Lankan and Canadian businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bilateral Trade Facilitation Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International Economic & Trade Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Bilateral trade facilitation
• Business networking events
• Trade mission organization
• Investment promotion services
• Chamber of commerce membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The council operates under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and generates revenue through membership fees from over 140 member companies. Members gain access to trade facilitation services, networking events, investment forums, and business matching between Sri Lanka and Canada.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council is a non-profit bilateral trade facilitation body that promotes trade, investment, and joint ventures between Sri Lankan and Canadian businesses. It offers membership-based services including trade missions, business forums, education fairs, investment forums, networking events, and information exchange with Canadian institutions. The council operates under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and serves over 140 member companies.

Product overview

The Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council (SLCBC) operates as a bilateral business promotion and networking organization under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. It does not offer technology products; rather, it provides services including trade and investment facilitation, business networking events, trade missions, education fairs, investment forums, and member directory services to promote economic relations between Sri Lanka and Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SLCBC Membership Recurring membership program providing companies with access to trade facilitation, networking events, business forums, and member directory listing. Over 140 member companies across Sri Lanka and Canada participate.
• Trade and Investment Missions Organized multi-city delegations for Sri Lankan businesses to visit Canada and engage with Canadian counterpart organizations, government officials, and potential partners.
• Canada Education Fair and Investment & Trade Forums Combined education and trade forum events co-organized with Canadian institutions and Sri Lankan regional chambers to promote educational pathways and investment opportunities between Sri Lanka and Canada.
• Business Forum & Networking Events In-person networking forums and business events held in Sri Lanka and Canada to enable member companies and prospective partners to meet, exchange information, and explore joint ventures.
• Member Directory Service Online directory of member companies hosted on the council's website, enabling visibility and business-to-business connections between Sri Lankan and Canadian firms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful nine-member trade and investment mission to Canada in October 2024 covering multiple cities
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Regina InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025The council met with University of Regina's Associate Vice President International to discuss student recruitment, scholarship opportunities, faculty and research collaboration, and exchange programs. Sri Lanka was identified as a top priority country for the university.
• Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2024The SLCBC delegation met with GIFS Executive Director Steve Webb to explore collaboration in agri-food sector, crop research, modern farming technologies, and value-added agri-business opportunities between Canada and Sri Lanka.
• University of SaskatchewancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2024Meeting held to explore collaboration in agriculture, research, and innovation. The university highlighted its research ecosystem including Canadian Light Source facility, livestock research centers, and expertise in agriculture and water science.
• Ontario Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023The Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to strengthen bilateral business relations, promote trade and investment opportunities, and facilitate networking between businesses in both regions.
• World University Service of Canada (WUSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2012The council signed an MOU with WUSC for economic and human resource development programs in Sri Lanka, focusing on student recruitment, scholarship opportunities, and educational exchanges between the two countries.
• Canada Sri Lanka Business Convention (CSBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSBC is the counterpart organization in Canada. Jointly organized the Sri Lanka-Canada Business Forum and networking sessions. The CSBC President Kula Sellathurai served as keynote speaker at the business forum in Toronto.
• Tri-Cities Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMet with Tri-Cities Chamber CEO Leslie Courchesne to explore opportunities in Agri-Tech, Education, IT/BPO, and Travel & Tourism. Both parties expressed interest in formalizing partnership through an MOU.
• High Commission of Canada in Sri LankacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe High Commission has a constructive working relationship with SLCBC and supports building business partnerships between the two countries. Collaborated on organizing the Canada Education Fair and Jaffna Investment & Trade Forum 2025.
• Ceylon Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLCBC operates under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, utilizing its infrastructure, network, and administrative support for council operations.
• Jaffna District Chamber of CommerceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaborated with Jaffna District Chamber of Commerce for hosting the Business Forum & Networking in Jaffna event and the Canada Education Fair and Jaffna Investment & Trade Forum 2025.
• Batticaloa UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMet with Vice Chancellor Prof. T. Prabaharan to foster collaboration for the Canadian International Education Fair and Jaffna Investment & Trade Forum 2025.
• Government of Sri Lanka - Provincial GovernorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLCBC held meetings with Governor of Northern Province Nagalingam Vethanayahan and Governor of Eastern Province Prof. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera to discuss economic growth, investment opportunities, and collaboration for regional events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Canada Sri Lanka Business Convention (CSBC): CSBC is SLCBC's direct counterpart organization in Canada, jointly organizing the Sri Lanka-Canada Business Forum and networking sessions. It is the most directly comparable peer, serving the same bilateral mission from the Canadian side.
• Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council: A fellow bilateral business council operating under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, focused on Sri Lanka–Malaysia trade and investment. SLCBC's current President previously led this council, and the two share the same operating model, parent, and revenue structure.
• Sri Lanka Singapore Business Council: Bilateral business council under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce promoting Sri Lanka–Singapore commercial ties. Closely comparable to SLCBC in scope, parent affiliation, and event-driven facilitation model.
• Sri Lanka India Business Council: Another bilateral business council under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, facilitating Sri Lanka–India trade. Operates with the same chamber-affiliated structure, event-driven GTM, and member-fee revenue model as SLCBC.
• Sri Lanka UK Business Council: Bilateral business council under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce focused on Sri Lanka–UK trade and investment. Directly comparable in mission, operating structure, and membership-based service model.
• Sri Lanka Japan Business Council: Bilateral business council under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce focused on Sri Lanka–Japan economic relations. Comparable in structure, parent affiliation, and trade facilitation services offered to member companies.

Broad incumbents

• Board of Investment of Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's statutory investment promotion agency, engaging in trade promotion and investor facilitation similar to SLCBC. Comparable in mission to attract foreign investment and promote trade, though as a government entity with broader mandate and larger resources.
• Ceylon Chamber of Commerce: SLCBC's parent organization and the apex private sector body in Sri Lanka. Comparable as the broader industry umbrella that houses multiple bilateral councils and provides infrastructure, though its scope is much wider than SLCBC's bilateral remit.
• Ontario Chamber of Commerce: A formal MOU partner of SLCBC and one of Canada's largest provincial business networks. Comparable as a Canadian trade and business facilitation body, though significantly larger in scale and broader in geographic and sectoral scope.

Regional players

• Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce: A Canadian regional chamber that has engaged with SLCBC on Agri-Tech, Education, IT/BPO, and Travel & Tourism opportunities. Comparable in mission to support bilateral business, but operates in a distinct Canadian geography (Tri-Cities region).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theslcbc
• Facebookfacebook.com/theslcbc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theslcbc
• Instagraminstagram.com/theslcbc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka- Canada Business Council