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by Shirajiv Sirimane

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) is aiming to be the Benchmark Chamber of Commerce in the Asia-Pacific region and the driving force in national economy and social development.

With the roots of the institution going back to over 160 years the Chamber has a firm foundation and many say that their dream would be a reality very soon.

The origin of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) goes back to March 25, 1839 when the then Governor of Ceylon Rt. Hon. J A Stewart Mackenzie, who was keenly interested in promoting agriculture and trade in Ceylon took the initiative to form the institution.

The Muslim merchants were the first traders in Ceylon and they were involved in 100% export and import business until the Portuguese, Dutch and subsequently the East India Company which all enjoyed the luxury of trade ships unlike the Muslim traders who had to depend of charter ships took control.

Many say that an independent business institution was the need of the hour and with this in mind the Rt. Hon. J A Stewart Mackenzie, called for a meeting of the top Mercantile community and requested them to draw up a constitution. A series of meetings were held at Corner House of Prince Street, Colombo before the CCC was established.

In 1895 the Chamber was incorporated by the then Legislative Council under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Ordinance No. 10 of 1895. The Chamber was the main body that co-ordinated the business among the government and the Mercantile sector. During the early days it also served as the main advisory body to the government on business related matters.

It also issued weekly market reports which were reproduced by the then two English papers Ceylon Observer and Ceylon Herald. The Colombo Harbour first objected to a clerk from the Chamber visiting their institution to collect export and import figures but with the government's intervention the Port co-operated with the Chamber Clerk.

The total population of Ceylon in 1839 was about 1,400,000. The public revenue was Sterling Pounds 372,013 and expenditure was Sterling Pounds 383,592.

The tonnage of shipping calling at the ports of Ceylon during 1839 amounted to 206,000 tons.

Today the Chamber membership is over 500 and most of the members are from the industry, import, export, agriculture, banking, hire-purchase, leasing, tourism, shipping, engineering, mining, consultancy services, wholesale, retail, financial services, legal and other services.

Some of the services offered by the Chamber include providing secretarial services to 24 business councils covering Australia, Benelux, Canada, China, Denmark, Eastern Europe, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, South Africa, United Kingdom and 18 Trade and service associations, making representations on behalf of its members on business matters, conducting of tea, rubber, spices and allied products auctions, issuing publications on trade, economic research and publications - Economic Intelligence Unit, export and Investment promotion through inbound and outbound missions, operating computerised information service, assisting visiting businessmen to make contacts in Sri Lanka, issuing Business Opportunities Bulletins, certifying and issuing Commercial Documents such as Certificates of Origin, issuing quality surveys for exports, issuing letters of introduction to members travelling abroad on business, compiling product design dossiers, maintaining a computerised reference and lending Library, operating an arbitration, conciliation and mediation service to reduce commercial disputes, exchanging information with the Chambers of Commerce in other countries and assigning of product identification Numbers (Barcodes).

One of the main functions undertaken by the Chamber even today is handling the world's largest tea auction.

Since it is an independent, non-profit and non-political voluntary body the CCC does not receive any financial assistance from the Government.

The Chamber activities are mainly funded by membership subscriptions and from charges for various technical services provided. Over the year's the chamber has contributed immensely to Sri Lanka's economy and their one to one business meetings organised between foreign trade mission members and local entrepreneurs have helped many Sri Lankans to find new partners and expand their business in other countries.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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