The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) marked its 40th anniversary by honouring its past presidents, with special recognition extended to its Founder President and President Emeritus, the late Deshabandu Patrick Amarasinghe, whose initiative in establishing the Chamber in 1986 laid the groundwork for four decades of organised representation for Sri Lanka's export community.
The tribute, held at the Chamber's 40th Annual General Meeting and anniversary celebration, on the 27th of March 2026 , acknowledged the collective contribution of all past presidents, leaders who, across successive terms, worked closely with governments, engaged with policymakers and advocated for conditions that supported export growth in Sri Lanka.
Amarasinghe founded the NCE at a time when Sri Lanka's exporters had no unified platform to represent their interests. Already an established exporter himself , having built Woodplex from a small operation into an internationally recognised, award-winning export business , he understood the gap firsthand.
As Founder President, he held the position for a record 15 years, from 1986 to 2002. During that time, he established the Sri Lanka Exporter Magazine, launched the Annual NCE Export Awards Scheme in 1992, and served on the boards of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the Board of Investment, ensuring the exporter's voice was present at the national level. Woodplex itself won four National Export Awards between 1975 and 1985, and Amarasinghe was later conferred the national honour of Deshabandu by the President of Sri Lanka for his socioeconomic contributions to the country. Successive presidents built on Amarasinghe's foundation, maintaining the Chamber's engagement with government, managing periods of economic uncertainty and expanding the NCE's reach to support a broader cross-section of the exporting community.
"This moment of recognition celebrates their invaluable contributions and lasting legacy, which continue to guide the Chamber's work in supporting exporters and contributing to national growth," the NCE noted.
The Chamber was privileged to have several past presidents present at the occasion. Their presence on the evening was a reflection of the continued investment past leadership has in the Chamber and the exporting community it serves. Certain past presidents, such as Mr. Ravi Jayawardena and Sarath De Silva, who were unable to attend due to prior engagements, conveyed their apologies. The NCE also solemnly remembers the late past president Mr. Felix Yahampath, in recognition of his distinguished service and lasting legacy.
NCE President Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa, re-elected for a further term at the same AGM, acknowledged the responsibility that comes with that history. "Our role has never been limited to simply representing exporters. It is also to serve as a bridge between policy and practice," he said.
The Chamber reaffirms its appreciation for all past presidents and notes that the principles on which the NCE was built, representation, engagement and support for exporters , remain at the centre of its work going forward.
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