AmCham Sri Lanka CEO Forum 2026 Concludes Successfully with Strong Call for Reform, Resilience and Regional Collaboration.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka concluded its flagship CEO Forum 2026 on 25 February 2026 under the theme Accelerating Sri Lanka’s Rebuild. The event brought together more than 200 C level executives, policymakers, development partners and global thought leaders, reinforcing its reputation as one of the country’s most influential leadership platforms. With overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, the Forum delivered a full day of strategic dialogue focused on restoring economic confidence, advancing structural reform, strengthening sustainability, supporting small and medium enterprises, enhancing public and private collaboration and embedding inclusive leadership into both corporate and national decision making.
The Forum commenced with an inspiring opening keynote by Jayne Howell, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka. She underscored the vital role of private sector leadership in Sri Lanka’s recovery and called for expanding strong and fair two-way trade between the United States and Sri Lanka. She highlighted opportunities to increase Sri Lankan purchases of high-quality American goods, technology and energy solutions, emphasizing that growth in trade and logistics including the continued expansion of the Port of Colombo strengthens supply chains, supports employment and drives economic growth in both countries. She also encouraged deeper commercial engagement through initiatives such as the Select USA Investment Summit.
A bold economic vision targeting seven percent growth and a two hundred-billion-dollar economy formed the centrepiece of the policy discussions. In his keynote address, Dr Harsha Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, set out Sri Lanka’s ambition to achieve sustained annual economic growth of seven percent, with the long-term objective of doubling the size of the economy within a decade and progressing toward a two hundred-billion-dollar milestone.
Panel discussions under the theme A New Chapter for Sri Lanka focused on restoring economic confidence through reform, resilience and international engagement. Key reform priorities identified included strengthening fiscal stability and maintaining inflation at approximately five percent, improving governance and regulatory clarity to attract foreign direct investment, upgrading infrastructure and enhancing logistics capabilities particularly in ports, supporting the growth of information technology, pharmaceuticals and high value export sectors, accelerating digitization and transforming the informal economy and consolidating the banking sector to enhance financial resilience.
Speakers emphasized that sustained reform and policy consistency are essential to positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive regional hub. The government’s commitment to creating a more predictable and investor friendly business environment was widely welcomed by the private sector participants, who noted that clarity, transparency and efficiency will be central to restoring investor confidence.
Climate risk and energy transition formed another major focus of the Forum. Panel discussions on the cost of climate change explored the economic risks posed by environmental volatility, including its impact on supply chains, public health and shifting global market demands. Participants stressed that climate change is not merely an environmental issue but a significant economic challenge that must be addressed through coordinated national planning and private sector innovation.
The urgent need for sustainable financing mechanisms and greater transparency in environmental social and governance reporting was highlighted throughout the discussion. Sri Lanka’s target of generating seventy percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 was examined alongside practical challenges such as fuel quality, battery storage costs and grid modernization. Panellists emphasized the importance of integrating environmental social and governance principles into corporate strategy and technology investment, as well as accelerating digital transformation to improve climate resilience and operational efficiency.
Regional collaboration across Asia Pacific economies was identified as critical to managing shared climate risks and advancing sustainable growth. Participants noted that cross border cooperation in technology transfer, financing and knowledge sharing can help countries accelerate their transition to low carbon economies while safeguarding competitiveness. Strengthening the small and medium enterprise sector emerged as a recurring theme across multiple sessions. Small and medium enterprises account for a significant share of employment and economic activity in Sri Lanka, yet access to credit remains limited, with only twenty percent of financial sector credit currently accessible to these enterprises. Addressing this imbalance was described as central to inclusive economic recovery.
In his keynote address, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe outlined transformative policy initiatives designed to create a more cohesive entrepreneurial ecosystem. A key announcement was the establishment of the Industrial Transformation and Innovation Agency, which will integrate industrial transformation with entrepreneurship development to enhance coordination and efficiency. The Deputy Minister announced a three hundred-million-rupee capacity building investment, the launch of the Level Up program targeting support for six thousand small and medium enterprises, and a ninety-five-million-rupee funding allocation dedicated to enterprise advancement. Additional reforms include simplified business registration processes, expanded financial literacy programs and improved access to equity financing. These initiatives aim to create a more enabling environment for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and compete in a changing market landscape. Panel discussions on unlocking opportunity in uncertainty reinforced that small and medium enterprise resilience will be central to Sri Lanka’s broader economic recovery strategy. Participants highlighted the importance of innovation, export orientation, digital adoption and stronger linkages between large corporations and smaller enterprises to build more resilient supply chains.
Global engagement and cross border investment opportunities were also prominent themes. Carey Arun, Principal Commercial Officer of the United States Commercial Service at the United States Consulate General in Chennai, provided insights into the advantages of investing in the United States and the role of the United States government in facilitating foreign investment. She invited Sri Lankan companies to participate in the annual Select USA Investment Summit to be held outside Washington from 3 to 6 May 2026, noting that it offers comprehensive market entry resources, direct networking with state level economic representatives, startup pitching competitions and individualized investment counselling services. The discussion reinforced the importance of strong bilateral commercial ties and investment flows between Sri Lanka and the United States. Expanding trade and investment partnerships was seen as a pathway to technology transfer, job creation and enhanced competitiveness in both markets.
April Palmerlee, Chief Executive Officer of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia and Chair of the AmChams of Asia Pacific, emphasized the importance of deeper collaboration and alignment among business leaders across the region. She highlighted the role of American Chambers in bridging policy intent with business impact, particularly in an environment shaped by evolving United States trade policies and strategic competition. Evidence based advocacy and practical solutions-oriented engagement were identified as essential tools for navigating an increasingly complex global economic landscape. The Forum also featured a special fireside conversation on inclusive leadership and diversity in decision making. The session underscored both the economic and social value of gender diversity in leadership roles. Speakers noted that seventy seven percent of Sri Lankan women lack access to leadership training, highlighting a significant gap in opportunity and professional development.
Discussions emphasized the need to move beyond token representation toward systemic change that addresses structural barriers in recruitment, promotion and workplace culture. Participants called for eliminating restrictive gender norms in organizational practices, creating respectful and inclusive work environments and addressing the influence of digital media on societal attitudes. The speakers stressed that embedding women’s perspectives into corporate and national decision making is not only a social imperative but also a strategic advantage that strengthens innovation, governance and long-term economic performance. Throughout the day, the CEO Forum served as a platform for meaningful dialogue, insight and action. More than a conference, it functioned as a space where policy direction met private sector experience. Practical discussions focused on reform implementation, resilience building, sustainability integration and inclusive growth strategies.
As Sri Lanka continues its rebuilding journey, the Forum underscored the importance of collaboration between government, business leaders, development partners and international stakeholders. Participants expressed optimism that with sustained reform, transparent governance and strong regional partnerships, Sri Lanka can accelerate its recovery and chart a path toward sustainable and inclusive growth. With strong attendance, dynamic exchanges and highly positive feedback from participants, the AmCham Sri Lanka CEO Forum 2026 stands as a significant milestone in shaping the country’s economic future. The event reaffirmed the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka’s role as a trusted convener of dialogue and a catalyst for reform-oriented engagement between the public and private sectors.
The CEO Forum 2026 was made possible through the generous support of its partners. Hatton National Bank served as the Title Sponsor, with Starlink by Singer as the Gold Sponsor. Barista supported the Forum as the Coffee Partner, Carmart served as the Mobility Partner and LinearSix joined as the Gifting Partner. Good PR supported the event as the Public Relations Partner and Emojot enhanced engagement as the Artificial Intelligence Experience Partner.
As the discussions concluded, a clear message emerged. Sri Lanka’s rebuild requires reform that is consistent and credible, resilience that is forward looking and inclusive, and regional collaboration that strengthens shared prosperity. The AmCham Sri Lanka CEO Forum 2026 demonstrated that when leaders come together with a common purpose, practical solutions and renewed confidence can follow.
