On 25 February, over 200 C-suite executives, policymakers, and international partners gather at Cinnamon Grand Colombo to forge a practical agenda for reform, resilience, and growth — with Sri Lanka’s economic future squarely in focus.
Sri Lanka has emerged from one of the most severe economic crises in its modern history and continues to face turbulence (Cyclone Ditwa in December 2025). The question now is not whether recovery is possible, but how fast, how inclusive, and how durable it will be. On Wednesday, 25 February 2026, the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham Sri Lanka) will convene its flagship CEO Forum 2026 — a full-day summit designed to translate high-level dialogue into actionable strategy, held under the theme “Accelerating Sri Lanka’s Rebuild.”
The Forum will run from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at the Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand Colombo, bringing together more than 200 C-level executives, senior government officials from both Sri Lanka and the U.S., development partners, and global thought leaders. Its scope reflects the scale of the moment: Sri Lanka’s recovery demands coordinated action across government, business, and the international community, and the CEO Forum is structured precisely to produce that alignment.
“The AmCham Sri Lanka CEO Forum is designed to move beyond conversation to collaboration. By bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and international partners, we aim to foster practical ideas that rebuild confidence, accelerate reform, and position Sri Lanka as a competitive and trusted destination for investment and growth.”
— Sandun Hapugoda, President, AmCham Sri Lanka & Country Manager, Mastercard Sri Lanka and Maldives
A Platform Built on Access and Authority
The Forum’s speaker roster signals both diplomatic and economic weight. The Keynote addresses will be delivered by Jayne Howell, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka; April Palmerlee, President of AmChams of Asia Pacific; and Carey Arun, Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Commercial Service; and Victor Antonypillai, Senior Country Officer for IFC and the World Bank in Sri Lanka, will be a panellist.
The programme will also feature addresses from senior government figures including Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance; Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; and feature Mr. Gregory Smith, Manger for Country Advisory and Economics in South Asia World Bank Group. Additional panelists from the private sector and leading development agencies will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The AmCham CEO Forum brings together business leaders in Sri Lanka at a critical moment to focus on reforms, resilience, and practical solutions that strengthen economic confidence.”
— Jayne Howell, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka
Five Panels, Five Defining Questions
The day’s agenda is organised around four thematic panel discussions and a fireside chat, that together span the full arc of Sri Lanka’s recovery agenda: restoring economic confidence through reform and international engagement; the fiscal and structural risks posed by climate change; the capacity of SMEs to compete and grow amid uncertainty; the downstream impact of global economic trends on the local development path.
In their breadth, the panels reflect a consistent conviction from AmCham’s leadership: that durable recovery in Sri Lanka cannot be driven by any single actor. It requires the simultaneous alignment of policy reform, private-sector dynamism, international capital, and climate resilience — and a forum where those conversations can happen in the same room.
Private Sector Confidence Anchored by Title Partner HNB
Hatton National Bank (HNB) comes on board as the Title Partner for the CEO Forum 2026, a commitment that carries its own signal. As one of Sri Lanka’s largest domestic banks, HNB’s involvement underscores private-sector confidence in the recovery narrative and in platforms that convene the leadership needed to sustain it.
“Platforms that bring together business, policy, and global perspectives are vital. We are proud to partner the AmCham Sri Lanka CEO Forum 2026 to support meaningful dialogue, strengthen confidence, and help unlock sustainable opportunities for the nation’s future.”
— Damitha Palewatte, Chief Executive Officer, Hatton National Bank (HNB)
The CEO Forum 2026 is the latest expression of AmCham Sri Lanka’s broader mission to deepen U.S.–Sri Lanka commercial ties, advocate for a more transparent and competitive business environment, and build the cross-sector coalitions that sustainable growth requires. With registration now open, organisers expect the event to reach capacity in advance of the 25 February date.
ABOUT AMCHAM SRI LANKA
The American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham Sri Lanka) is the leading bilateral business organisation advancing U.S.–Sri Lanka commercial relations. AmCham Sri Lanka advocates for a transparent, competitive, and innovation-friendly business environment, and facilitates strategic connections between the private sector, government, and international partners. AmCham Sri Lanka is headquartered at #01 Lower Lobby, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, 115 Sir Chitramala A. Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 02.
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