The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has handed over its historical records to the National Archives Department, placing more than a century of the island’s business history under the care of the nation’s official custodians of heritage.
The archive spans the period from the Chamber’s founding in 1839 to 1973.
It includes correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, ledgers, and publications that document the development of trade, enterprise, and industry. Together, the records provide a rare insight into how the island’s economy evolved and how the business community helped shape national progress.
Founded on 25 March 1839, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce emerged at a time when chambers of commerce were forming across Asia in cities such as Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Canton, Penang, and Singapore.
From its earliest years, the Chamber played a central role in organising trade and expanding the export economy. Commodities such as coffee, cinnamon, coconut oil, tea, and rubber helped drive commercial activity, while the Chamber hosted the island’s renowned tea and rubber auctions.
The institution also contributed to shaping the country’s infrastructure.
The Legacy
In 1858, the Chamber successfully urged the government to connect the island to the Madras telegraph line, giving the country its first cable link to the outside world.
It also advocated for the construction of the Colombo–Kandy railway, which connected coastal trade routes with the interior and helped expand the plantation economy.
Another major contribution came through the Chamber’s support for developing Colombo as the island’s principal port.
At the time, the government had considered expanding the Galle harbour. However, the Chamber strongly recommended Colombo due to its larger cargo hinterland and safer navigation conditions. The proposals eventually led to the development of Colombo as a leading regional port.
Over the decades, the Chamber has also helped establish key institutions within the business ecosystem.
These include the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, the Mercantile Service Provident Society, and the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors, which continue to support industrial relations, labour welfare, and corporate governance.
The Chamber also created mechanisms to improve the business environment.
Among them is the CCC ICLP Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre, which offers arbitration and mediation services for commercial disputes.
During the symbolic handover, Ceylon Chamber Chairperson Krishan Balendra said the archive represents nearly two centuries of the nation’s commercial legacy.
He noted that the records capture the ideas, decisions, and enterprises that shaped the country’s trade and industry.
Accepting the archive, Director General of the National Archives Dr. Nadeera Rupesinghe said the department preserves the memory of the nation and welcomed the addition of the Chamber’s historic records.
The transfer marks an important step in safeguarding the institutional history of one of the country’s oldest and most influential business organisations.
Last modified: March 11, 2026
