News
SDC conducts workshop on Inclusive Business Accreditation
The Sustainable Development Council (SDC) successfully conducted a workshop on ‘Establishing an Inclusive Business Accreditation System’ for Sri Lanka in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the United Nations Resident Coordinators Office on 24th February 2025, bringing together government officials, industry experts, and passionate entrepreneurs dedicated to building a more inclusive business ecosystem in Sri Lanka.
The Workshop focused on the establishment of an Inclusive Business (IB) Accreditation System and the transformative power of IB models to contribute not only to economic growth but also towards a more just, stable, and resilient society. Accreditation would play a pivotal role in distinguishing credible IBs from those engaging in superficial social responsibility efforts.
The Guidelines for Promoting Inclusive Businesses adopted by the ASEAN member states proposes IB Accreditation as a core policy instrument to promote inclusive businesses in the region. An IB Accreditation would offer significant benefits to both the government and businesses. For the government, it would drive solutions addressing the needs of low-income populations by encouraging businesses to adopt inclusive business models. The system would also enable more effective promotion and recognition of inclusive businesses, inspiring others to follow suit. Additionally, it could help the government to identify businesses eligible for both financial or non-financial incentives. For businesses, IB Accreditation would help gain enhanced visibility and brand recognition, boosting access to investment and new market opportunities, while attracting impact investors to support their growth. In addition, a well implemented IB Accreditation System could provide accredited businesses opportunities to access a range of advantages, including financial and non-financial incentives and businesses support services which would help scale operations and increase social impact.
The workshop focused on areas such as the Inclusive Business Landscape in Sri Lanka, IB Accreditation Process and Steps in the implementation of an IB Accreditation System and Financial and Non-Financial Incentives that can be linked to an IB Accreditation System. Several ASEAN member states have put in place IB Accreditation systems based on the IB Accreditation Principles advanced by the ASEAN Secretariat and the workshop facilitated participants to learn from comparative experiences and good practices from IB Accreditation Systems implemented in Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and South Korea.
The Workshop kicked off with a presentation on the Inclusive Business Landscape in Sri Lanka and recommendations for driving inclusive business growth by the Director General of the Sustainable Development Council Chamindry Saparamadu, followed by a panel discussion with inclusive business leaders on their challenges, successes, and opportunities in leveraging IB Accreditation. Vihagun Ariyaratne, the Founder of Owita Naturals Pvt Ltd, Asitha Jayasinghe, Founder of Blackpool Coffee, and Dushmantha Dissanayake, Agri Entrepreneur/ SME Finance Specialist, elaborated on the importance of accreditation and how it will enhance brand value, accountability, transparency, and help businesses adopt a holistic approach to inclusivity and ethics.
The Workshop Participants delved into the vital steps required to establish an IB Accreditation System in Sri Lanka that will drive sustainable growth, innovation, and equal opportunities for all under the expert guidance of Marta Perez Cuso from the Trade, Innovation and Investment Division of UNESCAP who brings forth extensive experience in promoting inclusive enterprises throughout the Asia Pacific Region, including in India, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand, Ms. Pham Hong Ngan, Research Consultant from Vietnam shared insights from the Vietnam Accreditation Pilot, and Mr. William Baxter, Project Lead, Inclusive Business at the European Chamber of Commerce, presented key learnings and recommendations for developing an IB Accreditation System in Sri Lanka.
The workshop was successfully concluded, obtaining important feedback and suggestions from relevant government agencies such as the Ministry of Industries, Export Development Board, Industrial Development Board, Sri Lanka Accreditation Board, Sri Lanka Standards Institute, Board of Investment, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Development Finance Department, business chambers, and other relevant stakeholders regarding the way forward for establishing an IB Accreditation system through the facilitation of resource persons Ms. Ganga Iddamlgoda, Ms. Sheron Hewawaduge and Mr. Navaka Navarathne.
An Outcome Report with recommendations for establishing an IB Accreditation System is expected to be presented to the Government in due course.
Religious and civil society leaders have called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to begin implementing the recommendations outlined in the Special Presidential Commission that investigated the Easter Sunday terror attacks without further delay.
Addressing a press conference held at the Centre for Society and Religion in Colombo, Lawyer Manoj Nanayakkara stated that 71 months have passed since the Easter Sunday attacks, yet justice has not been served for the victims.
“We are approaching the sixth anniversary of this heinous crime, which claimed nearly 300 lives and wounded twice as many others. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had promised to conduct a fresh investigation into this crime. In the meantime, he could implement the recommendations of the Special Presidential Commission that probed the Easter Sunday terror attacks. This would demonstrate that the current government is keeping its word to deliver justice to the victims,” Nanayakkara said.
He also commented on Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thero, who has been holding press conferences, claiming to have information related to the terror attacks and to know the masterminds behind them. “Our question is why he does not go to the law enforcement agencies and share the information he claims to possess. There is no purpose in making such statements at press conferences. As a citizen, his duty is to share this information with the investigating authorities.
Therefore, we believe that Gnanasara Thero is engaging in a political ploy at the behest of someone else. He should be aware that intentionally withholding information about a brutal massacre and failing to share it with the investigating authorities is an offence punishable under the Penal Code,” Nanayakkara said.Rev. Fr. Julian Patrick Perera, Rector of St. Joseph Vaz Deva Dharma Niketanaya, also addressed the press conference.
By Norman Palihawadana
The Colombo foreign ministry Friday formally announced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka when he will have bilateral talks with President Anura Kumara Disanayaka and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
While in Sri Lanka,Modi is scheduled to visit Anuradhapura to pay homage to the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi and will inaugurate several projects implemented in Sri Lanka with the assistance of the Government of India, a ministry release.
A number of Memoranda of Understanding inked between the two countries are also expected to be exchanged during this visit, it added.
The Indian PM will be accompanied by the Minister of External Affairs, the National Security Advisor, Foreign Secretary and other senior officials of the Government of India.
It was revealed in the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) that a private company named ‘Savorite’ was issued Waiver of Registration (WoR) certificates to import 38 types of medicines in 2022 without the evaluation of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
The former Secretary to the Ministry of Health also informed the Committee that the former Minister of Health had given instructions to select this private company to import medicines in this way, parliament sources said on Friday.
This was disclosed when the COPE met in Parliament recently under the chairmanship of MP Dr Nishantha Samaraweera, to examine the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 and the current performance of the NMRA.
The Committee Chair informed the committee that on December 30, 2022, the NMRA had issued Waiver of Registration (WoR) certificates to a private company named ‘Savorite’ for the import of 38 types of medicines submitted through unsolicited proposals without the evaluation of the NMRA.
The Committee Chair said that the NMRA has abdicated its responsibility, stating that the purpose of establishing the NMRA is to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of those medicines and that it cannot be handed over to the Medical Supplies Sector.
Former members of the Board of Directors of the NMRA said that since the import of medicines through a special pathway with prior approval was carried out, the Board of Directors could not grant permission for it without conducting a proper evaluation. Therefore, they said that they did not accept responsibility in this regard.
Accordingly, this matter was discussed at length in the committee, and it was revealed that the former Minister of Health had instructed to select a private company called ‘Savorite’ to import the medicines in short supply for three months.
Meanwhile, the Committee also discussed at length the Cabinet Memorandum submitted by the former Minister of Health on September 26,2022. The Committee Chair inquired from the Ministry of Health officials about the fact that a large number of medicines would reach zero levels within the next three weeks from the date of submission of the relevant Cabinet Memorandum.
The officials who responded said that the information had been added to the Cabinet Memorandum based on the information obtained from the existing database regarding medicines. However, the committee Chair said that it was unacceptable for a large number of medicines to reach zero levels at the same time and that the relevant responsible officials had acted irresponsibly until such a level was reached.
The Auditor General, who spoke at the time, stated that the medicines that were ordered and to be received in advance have also been imported, citing that the medicines have reached zero levels.
Accordingly, the committee chair instructed the officials to submit a full report to the Committee on who were the officials involved in preparing this Cabinet Memorandum. The Chair further stated that a full report regarding the import of these medicines will be prepared by the Committee and submitted to Parliament, and that necessary action will be taken expeditiously.
MPs Mano Ganeshan, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, S. M. Marikkar, Chaminda Wijesiri, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Chandima Hettiarachchi, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera, Sudath Balagalla, Dr S. Sri Bavanandarajah, Lt Com (Retd.) Prageeth Madhuranga and Samanmali Gunasinghe were present in this committee meeting.
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