A delegation of 30 professionals from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently completed a specialised residential training programme on International Trade Facilitation at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in New Delhi.
Hosted by IIFT—an institution established under India’s Ministry of Commerce and widely recognised as a centre of excellence in international trade education and research—the programme also featured engagements with several of India’s leading trade and diplomatic institutions.
These included the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the government body responsible for formulating and implementing India’s foreign trade policy; the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, the country’s premier training institute for diplomats; the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, the apex body representing India’s exporting community; and the Confederation of Indian Industry, one of India’s most influential industry associations.
Collectively, these engagements provided participants with valuable insights into how policy, diplomacy, and industry intersect to facilitate trade and drive economic growth.
Over the course of nine days, participants explored key aspects of global commerce, including the international trading system, trade negotiations, economic intelligence, trade finance, and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber risk, and digital transformation.
The programme offered a comprehensive understanding of the evolving dynamics of international trade and the systems that support it. It also highlighted how chambers of commerce can further strengthen their role in helping businesses navigate global markets, contribute to policy dialogue, and enhance the broader trade ecosystem.
The programme was designed and led by Rohit Mehtani, Dean at IIFT and a respected expert in international trade diplomacy and negotiations, whose academic and advisory work has significantly contributed to global trade discourse.
Lasitha Pathberiya Appointed Director of Economic Research at CBSL
Lasitha Ranjana Chanista Pathberiya, widely known as Lasitha Pathberiya, has been appointed Director of the Economic Research Department at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) with effect from March 2026.
Prior to this appointment, he served as Additional Director of the Economic Research Department from 2023 to 2026. Pathberiya began his career at CBSL in 2005 as a Senior Manager in the Public Debt Department, a role he held until 2018.
In 2018, he transitioned to the Economic Research Department as a Senior Economist, marking a significant step in his career in economic policy and research.
Pathberiya’s academic journey reflects a strong foundation in economics and analytics. In 2013, he was awarded a CBSL scholarship to pursue a Master of Business Economics (Advanced) at the University of Queensland, where he earned recognition on the Dean’s Honour Roll for outstanding academic performance. He later secured a full scholarship in 2017 to complete his PhD in Economics at the same university, with research focused on the cost channel of monetary policy in the presence of the zero lower bound on nominal interest rates.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Statistics from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and has also obtained the UK Professional Graduate Diploma in Information Technology from the British Computer Society.
Pathberiya received his primary education at Asoka Vidyalaya Colombo and completed his secondary education at Ananda College Colombo, where he maintained a distinguished academic record. He entered university on his first attempt and graduated with First Class Honours.
With over two decades of experience at CBSL, his appointment marks a significant step in strengthening the institution’s economic research and policy capabilities.
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Delegation Completes Trade Facilitation Programme at IIFT, New Delhi.
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