YMF Buzz - Issue 1

YMF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Gillian Nugara - Chairperson
Ushendrini Amerasinghe - Social Events Management
Gayathiri Arwind - Finance and Planning Management (Fund generation)
Manjula Maldeniya - Workshop / Seminars/ Educational Activities
Anojan Selvanathan - Membership Drive/ Annual Report/quarterly e-news letter
Manori Dissanayake - Innovations
Oshadhi Kodisinghe - Legal Advice
Vinuri Perera - Secretary
YMF HAPPENINGS SINCE OCTOBER 2014...
YMF LAUNCH AND GENERAL MEETING
The Young Members Forum (YMF) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce had its first General Meeting on
Tuesday, the 07th of October 2014, which saw the election of a chairperson and also members to its committee.
That day was marked as the official launch of the forum, which is the latest initiative of the Ceylon Chamber of
Commerce to identify, engage and develop the next generation of Sri Lankan leaders.
The General Meeting and the launch took place simultaneously at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, which
started at 6.00 pm.
The YMF plans to give its members an inspirational growth opportunity, through various strategically driven
programs. Currently the YMF has significant membership of the young corporate executives and emerging
entrepreneurs in the country.
The forum encourages entrepreneurship, create a knowledge sharing culture, provide assistance to young
professionals in relation to business, employment, training, and create networking opportunities with CCC
members and member organisations.
YMF Buzz - Issue 1
Page | 2 of 6
YMF Buzz - Issue 1
THE CEYLON CHAMBER LED YMF, GUIDES UNI STUDENTS ON HOW TO KICK-START THEIR CAREER
The Young Members Forum (YMF) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, conducted a series of workshops
covering three national universities, giving undergraduates guidelines on how to kick start their careers.
The program, conducted five separate workshops, covering the Universities of Colombo, Kelaniya and Sri
Jayawardenapura. The career oriented training program focused on three key areas, such as “How to kick-start
their career’, ‘Preparing winning resumes’ and also ‘How to face interviews”.
‘Vision for career success’, ‘How to prepare a winning resume’ with an ‘Effective cover letter,’ and also ‘How to
successfully face interviews’, are the areas that were covered during the program. Undergraduates of the
Science, Finance and Management faculties had the privilege to participate in this program and over 400 of
them attended the workshops, while the career oriented program was conducted by the YMF, free of charge.
CCC’S YOUNG MEMBERS FORUM VISITS COLOMBO STOCK EXCHANGE
A site visit was organised by the YMF to visit the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) which has 295 listed
firms and which has reached over Rs. 3 trillion market capitalization mark, thus helping its members to
learn the basics of debt and equity trading. Twenty five YMF members, who were keen on learning the
operations of the Colombo Stock Exchange and the investment options attended and benefitted from
this initiative. The group consisted of Young Professionals, who are engaged in diverse professions in the
corporate field. The CSE officials initially briefed the YMF members about the Colombo Stock Exchange’s
operations and later on the group was taken to the trading floor of the bourse to explain more on the
trading system.
Page | 3 of 6
YMF Buzz - Issue 1
THE CEYLON CHAMBER INVITES YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO JOIN THE YMF
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the country’s premier business chamber has formed ‘Young
Members Forum’ (YMF), in a bid to identify, engage and develop the next generation of Sri Lankan
leaders by providing an inspirational growth opportunity for them through various strategically driven
programs.
This latest initiative by the Chamber, which is in its 175th year in progress, is ventured upon as it was felt
that there was a dearth in the ‘Next Generation’ leaders in the country. Currently the YMF has a
significant membership of the young corporate executives and emerging entrepreneurs in the country.
The aim of this initiative is to reach a wider spectrum of individuals by providing individual membership
to The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) through CCC-YMF to build strong relationships that can be
linked to the Chamber over the years. The CCC intends to make the most of its current corporate
membership to plan and integrate continuous programs to develop the YMF members.
Once enrolled as a member, the Chamber will facilitate a common platform for the youth to interact,
learn, share knowledge and to develop and grow together in their respective domains which will be
accepted by all stakeholders. The YMFs primary target is the 26% of the Sri Lankan population, which falls
into the age groups between 18 - 40 years. (Source: CBSL 2013 annual report)
YOUNG MEMBERS FORUM ORGANIZES AN ‘AWARD WINNING HIV AWARENESS
PROGRAM’
Young Members’ Forum of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce conducted an ‘Awareness Program’
which was conducted under the title of ‘Living with HIV”. The “Living with HIV” is an award winning
HIV peer education programme which aims to raise awareness and educate people on the facts
about HIV and aids to help prevent new infections and reduce stigma”. Ms. Mrinali Thalagodapitiya,
Manager - Corporate Affairs of the Standard Chartered Bank conducted the awareness program.
Standard Chartered Bank is the Sri Lanka Country Champion for the Bank’s living with HIV
Programme since 2012. Dr. Sumithra Tissera, Director, of the Family Planning Association of Sri
Lanka thereon explained the facilities and services offered by FPA.
Page | 4 of 6
YMF Buzz - Issue 1
BRIDGE - SRI LANKA FELLOWSHIP - LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP FOR YOUTH
The Sri Lanka Fellowship was a fully sponsored five day workshop programme targeting youth which
was held in Colombo from the 27th to the 31st of October, 2014 at Mount Lavinia Hotel.
The Sri Lanka Fellowship was organised by Bridge in collaboration with the CHA (the Consortium of
Humanitarian Agencies) and the Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration, Sri Lanka.
Helping the youth of today make a difference tomorrow, the Sri Lanka Fellowship Leadership
Programme was an opportunity for young people to come together in a mutual desire to make a
change and learn from the provocative and memorable development sessions which was conducted
by Bridge consultants and international leaders from both the corporate and public sectors.
It is with great pleasure and honour we inform you that three of our Young Members’ were
selected for this programme. We congratulate and wish them all best of luck.
Subaideen Samsiya
Hameed
Ravihansi Palliyaguruge
Vethanathan Thanushan
Some photos of BRIDGE workshop
Page | 5 of 6
YMF Buzz - Issue 1
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fire and Ice - YMF Members’ Night
A social gathering of all the YMF members to have a fun filled evening with full of entertainment
scheduled for February 2015. Await more info…
Beach Rugby
YMF Beach Rugby is scheduled for March 2015 – Await more info…
Quiz Competition
International Cricket Quiz is scheduled for April 2015 – Await details…
YMF - Website
A website will be launched YMF in the first quarter of 2015.
CCC-YMF Secretariat can be reached on:
The Secretariat
Young Members’ Forum of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
50, Nawam Mawatha,
Colombo 02
Phone: 011-558-8880 or 011-558-8882
E-mail: ymf@chamber.lk
Website: www.ymf.lk
Page | 6 of 6