Director General of the Sustainable Development Council, Chamindry Saparamadu underscores the vital role of businesses in sustainable tourism at ECCSL's knowledge-sharing event

On 21st November, the European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) hosted a knowledge sharing event titled "Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism: Knowledge Sharing for Practical Implementation". The event featured insights from industry and government leaders to understand how businesses in the tourism industry are combining inclusive and sustainable practices with commercial success. The event focused on best practices, strategies, and opportunities for implementing inclusive and sustainable business models in the tourism industry.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of the Sustainable Development Council, Chamindry Saparamadu, emphasized the critical role that businesses could play in supporting the national development process and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She highlighted that inclusive and sustainable businesses are purpose-driven enterprises that use commercially viable models to generate positive social and environmental impact. She further elaborated on the government support available for the promotion of inclusive and sustainable businesses to achieve the SDGs and that sustainable businesses must be the engines that transform Sri Lanka.

The event featured the presentation of business case studies by Shaleen Shanthikumar, Director of the Serendipity Collection & the Serendipity Experiences, Sail Lanka Charter, Poornaka Delpachitra, Country General Manager, Sri Lanka, Intrepid Travel, Simon Bell, Founder and Managing Director, AMBA Estate and Sashika Kaluwahewa, Manager (Sustainability), Jetwing Hotels. The discussions were moderated by William Baxter, Project Lead, Inclusive Business Practices, ECCSL.