From May 2023 to July 2025, the European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) implemented its Inclusive Business Practices project in partnership with the Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) programme. SCOPE is co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka.
ECCSL’s project delivered a range of outputs designed to promote inclusivity and sustainability in the Sri Lankan business community.
PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI)
ECCSL produced a research report exploring how the private sector can help promote social cohesion in Sri Lanka. The study included a literature review and interviews with 41 businesses across all nine provinces. It found that businesses can harness the potential of DEI to realise tangible, commercial benefits and make an important contribution to social harmony and economic stability in Sri Lanka.
The report presented nine key findings and recommendations, including encouraging businesses to view DEI as a long-term investment and to expand their efforts to help promote cross-cultural understanding by, for example, supporting multilingualism and encouraging employee exchanges between different business locations.
Published in March 2024, the report was launched at an event attended by Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Hon. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Foreign Minister Hon. M. U. M. Ali Sabry, EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, H.E. Carmen Moreno, as well as over 100 business and government stakeholders.
Building on the successful reception of this report, ECCSL worked with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to include DEI criteria in its Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability awards, which it did for the first time in 2024.
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SUPPORTING GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES AND POLICIES
ECCSL collaborated with the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka (SDC) to provide advice and policy development support for the Government’s Inclusive and Sustainable Business Strategy. We participated in SDC workshops and consultations, offering business perspectives on how companies can contribute to inclusivity and sustainability, as well as sharing insights from our DEI research.
As part of this work, ECCSL produced a research and recommendations report on establishing an Inclusive Business Accreditation System in Sri Lanka. The report reviewed international government-led and independent certification schemes and provided recommendations for the establishment of an inclusive business accreditation system in Sri Lanka. Based on the findings of this report, ECCSL hosted a roundtable discussion with business and government stakeholders, with the SDC incorporating feedback into the policy’s ongoing development.
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SHARING KNOWLEDGE ON INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
In further collaboration with the SDC, ECCSL organised a series of knowledge-sharing events to bring together businesses to discuss their experiences in implementing inclusive and sustainable practices. The five events featured 17 companies from the tourism, food and agriculture, apparel, and finance sectors, as well as a collaborative MSME-focused event with Good Market.
Drawing on the experiences shared, ECCSL produced a booklet of 10 Inclusive and Sustainable Business Tips, each accompanied by a real-life case study. These practical tips, such as ‘Start Small’, ‘Engage Your Employees’, and ‘Tell Your Story’, were each accompanied by a real-life business story to show other Sri Lankan businesses how they can adopt inclusivity and sustainability into their operations.
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COLLABORATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS FOR ONGOING IMPACT
ECCSL participated in and contributed to a range of events promoting DEI, inclusivity, and sustainability, including:
ECCSL also supported other SCOPE partners by advising on private sector engagement. Many partners had not previously worked with larger businesses, so ECCSL helped them identify opportunities, refine their communications, and improve their strategies for private sector engagement.
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This project was implemented by ECCSL in partnership with the Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) programme, co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, and implemented by GIZ in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka.
