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Bonga oil spill: Niger Delta fishermen seek $1b compensation

Fishermen and other residents of communities affected by the Bonga oil spill in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Ondo states have again appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the prolonged delay in the disbursement of the $1 billion indemnity funds paid as compensation for victims of the disaster.

In a joint statement yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, by Omogbemi Jeremiah and Jeje Olamiyeye, on behalf of the affected fishermen and communities, the fishermen said they had suffered severe economic losses as a result of the oil spill.

They pleaded with President Tinubu to order the committee on compensation to facilitate the immediate release of the funds to the affected communities.

The fishermen said the prolonged delay in accessing the compensation had frustrated them and other residents whose livelihoods were disrupted by the environmental disaster.

According to them, the Niger Delta has continued to demand the release of the compensation fund, stressing that the affected communities have waited for years for the financial relief.

‘We, the Niger Delta fishermen, are still demanding the release of the fund,’ they said.

The fishermen also urged President Tinubu to direct the relevant committee to conclude whatever processes were delaying the disbursement and ensure that the money reaches the affected fishermen and other residents.

‘We beg Mr. President to order the committee constituted to please facilitate the disbursement of the fund to the affected communities,’ the statement said.

The fishermen also urged the President to direct the head of the committee and its members to release the compensation reportedly secured in connection with the December 20, 2011 Bonga oil spill.

They said the affected fishermen have been waiting for the compensation for several years, adding that the delay has compounded the difficulties faced by communities whose livelihoods depend largely on fishing and other activities connected to the aquatic environment.

The Bonga oil spill reportedly occurred due to an incident at Shell’s Bonga offshore oil field in December 2011. The incident resulted in the release of crude oil into the Atlantic Ocean and triggered concerns over its impact on marine life, fishing activities, and coastal communities.

The affected fishermen said the consequences of the spills were particularly significant for communities whose residents depend on fishing for their livelihoods.

They argued that the compensation was intended to address the losses the victims incurred and should be made available to the people it was meant for.

The fishermen urged the Federal Government to treat the matter as urgent, particularly because of the time that has elapsed since the incident occurred.

They also called for transparency in the handling and disbursement of the compensation, saying the affected communities should be properly identified and the beneficiaries allowed to get the funds due to them.

‘We, the Niger Delta fishermen, appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and direct the immediate release of the fund to the affected communities,’ they said.

The fishermen also urged the President to direct the relevant authorities to resolve any outstanding administrative or procedural issues surrounding the compensation.

They maintained that their appeal was not only about financial compensation but also about providing relief to communities that have borne the economic consequences of the oil spill.

They urged the committee handling the compensation process to engage directly with representatives of the affected communities and fishermen and ensure transparency in the disbursement to genuine victims.

2027: Lulu-Briggs woos non-indigenes in Rivers

Rivers State Governorship Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, declared that non-indigenes resident in the state have a major stake in determining its political future in the 2027 governorship election.

Lulu-Briggs, who spoke after meeting with a group of non-indigenes in Rivers State, said the group resolved to support his bid to ‘reset Rivers State’ and birth what he described as a ‘new Rivers State.’

He said the residents, many of whom came to Rivers in search of economic opportunities, had endured setbacks attributed to poor leadership and were prepared to use the next election to influence the state’s direction.

According to him, the group’s concerns extended beyond politics to issues affecting their daily lives, including healthcare, education, security and the survival of their businesses.

He said, ‘When they spoke of their purpose, I saw in them pain, readiness, and urgency, a people prepared to rise up and reclaim all they have lost to bad leadership.

‘They believe the next four years are on the ballot: their health, their children’s education, their security, and whether their businesses thrive or suffer further losses.’

The NDC candidate said the group’s decision to support him was based on his leadership experience, independence and people-focused approach.

‘They resolved to support someone with compassion, who is people-focused, who has led himself and led organisations, who is independent and competent enough to lead without interference, and who takes instructions only from God, not man,’ he said.

Lulu-Briggs, however, rejected the description of the residents as ‘non-indigenes’, arguing that their contributions to the state made them part of the Rivers community.

‘I reminded them: we are all Rivers people. They live in Rivers State, do business, and contribute to its economy, peace, security, and growth. That makes them as indigenous as the work they do here, and not ‘non-indigenes,” he said.

He described the group’s position as evidence of what he called a growing political awakening in the state, saying the proposed political reset would require sustained mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election.

‘The truth is, the hour has come. The awakening keeps growing without pause, and this group’s endorsement confirms that resetting Rivers State and birthing a New Rivers State is possible,’ he said.

Lulu-Briggs also warned that those benefiting from the existing political order would resist attempts to change it.

‘But we must work for it with real seriousness. Those who have made themselves slave masters over us will fight to keep us enslaved; they will not let us go easily,’ he said.

He urged the group to take his message to other residents across the state, stressing that the outcome of the 2027 election would depend on voters’ choices.

‘The choice is ours to see this moment of freedom as a need, or dismiss it as a mere want,’ Lulu-Briggs said.

He urged the residents to continue spreading the message of his political movement ‘until victory over these slave masters who have taken God’s place in the lives of men is achieved, come 2027.’

5 things you must do once hired as social media manager

Many people still believe that managing social media is simply about uploading nice pictures on Instagram, making TikTok videos, or dropping witty comments on X. Businesses rely on online platforms for actual revenue, customer support, and brand survival.

Stepping into this role means taking on serious responsibility from day one. You are the digital mouthpiece and frontline ambassador of the organisation.

In this article, Tribune Online examines five essential tasks you must prepare to execute immediately after landing a role as a social media manager.

Conduct thorough social media audit

Your first line of action is to inspect what the brand has already been doing online. You need to pull up every active account, review past engagement numbers, verify log-in securities, and document follower demographics. This step reveals what worked previously, what failed woefully, and what needs immediate fixing.

Regular channel audits help businesses spot wasted ad spend and identify inactive accounts that confuse potential customers. Taking inventory early prevents you from repeating past mistakes and gives you a factual baseline to measure your future wins.

Establish clear content calendar and posting schedule

Never wake up in the morning wondering what to post for the day. You must organize your messaging using a documented content calendar that details daily themes, visuals, captions, and publishing times. Grouping your content into buckets like educational posts, customer reviews, and product promotions ensures your feed stays balanced.

A planned content calendar keeps your output steady even during busy workdays. It also allows stakeholders and managers to review and approve posts well in advance, eliminating last-minute typing blunders and off-brand messages.

Build dedicated community management routine

Social media is a two-way street, not a television broadcast. You must set aside specific hours every single day to reply to direct messages, answer inquiries in the comment section, and engage with related industry conversations.

Audiences quickly abandon brands that act like brick walls. Fast and polite responses build customer trust, resolve complaints before they escalate, and directly turn casual viewers into loyal paying clients.

Master analytics and performance reporting

Posting without reviewing your numbers is like driving a car blindfolded. You must learn how to track essential metrics such as reach, click-through rates, conversion rates, and audience retention, rather than focusing purely on ‘vanity’ metrics like simple likes.

Management will inevitably ask for proof that your work is bringing value to the company. Learning to translate platform data into clear weekly or monthly performance reports proves your impact, justifies marketing budgets, and clearly shows where to adjust your strategy.

Set up an online crisis response protocol

Trouble can hit at any time on the internet, from a dissatisfied customer leaving an angry review to an accidental misstep in a campaign post. You must work closely with company leadership to draft a simple crisis plan before any controversy starts.

This protocol dictates exactly who needs to be alerted, who crafts public statements, and what steps to take when public backlash arises. Having this framework in place keeps you calm, prevents emotional online arguments, and protects the hard-earned reputation of the business.

Ex-deputy governor’s plea for reconciliation opportunity stalls ruling in case

The ruling planned for yesterday by a Federal High Court in Abuja in the contempt case against a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Godwins Omobayo, has been stalled owing to his request for time to explore out-of-court settlement.

The contempt case was brought against Omobayo by another former Deputy Governor in the state, Philip Shaibu, for allegedly refusing to abide by the court’s judgment of July 17, 2024 voiding Shaibu’s impeachment and ordering Omobayo to vacate the seat.

At the mention of the case yesterday, Justice James Omotosho announced that he was ready to read the ruling. He was about to commence when Omobayo’s lawyer, Ken Mozia (SAN), sought the judge’s permission to address the court.

Mozia noted that out of the magnanimity of the court, the parties were given the opportunity to resolve the issues out of court.

He said his team met with the lead counsel for the applicant (Shaibu), Ayotunde Ogunleye (SAN), during which parties had an extensive discussion.

Mozia said: ‘We met and we had substantially agreed on what to do,’ adding that parties were yet to completely agree on some issues raised by the applicant.

He added: ‘By Friday evening, I got some conditions which they said they required. We request your lordship to allow us to engage in reconciliation.

‘My intention this morning is to appeal to your lordship to allow us deliberate on issues left. I am sincerely appealing that my lord can give us one more time to clear the two outstanding issues.’

When asked if Omobayo, who was also in court, had shown remorse for his alleged misconduct, Mozia said he was in court to speak on his behalf, adding that the alleged contemnor was prepared to address the court himself.

Justice Omotosho, who said it was not his practice to suspend ruling while it was about to be delivered, recalled that the court had given the parties about two months to reconcile.

The judge said: ‘I don’t even do that; to suspend ruling on the day of delivery. It is out of respect to the learned senior counsel.’

He then turned to Shaibu’s lawyer, Kunle Lawal, and sought his opinion.

Lawal confirmed that a reconciliation process was ongoing between the parties, saying he was not opposed to the application by Mozia for a short adjournment.

He said: ‘I can confirm that, that is the position my lord, that they will need more time to review some of the outstanding issues.’

Justice Omotosho then adjourned the matter till tomorrow for ruling.

Justice Omotosho had, on July 17, 2024, voided the impeachment of Shuaibu as the deputy governor of Edo by the House of Assembly.

The judge, in the judgment, ordered his reinstatement to office on the grounds that the House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in the purported impeachment.

Justice Omotosho also held that the allegation on which the assembly based the impeachment proceedings was untenable in law and did not constitute a gross misconduct.

The judgment was on the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 with Shaibu as the plaintiff.

Shaibu had sued the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Deputy Governor of Edo, the AG, Chief Judge of Edo, Speaker of Edo House of Assembly and the Edo State House of Assembly as 1st to 6th defendants.

Omobayo was, on April 8, 2024, sworn in as the new deputy governor after Shaibu’s impeachment by the House of Assembly.

However, after the court’s judgment, Omobayo allegedly refused to vacate the deputy governorship position, prompting Shaibu to initiate the contempt proceeding.

Nigeria, US sign deal to unlock $700bn solid minerals sector

Nigeria and the United States have taken a major step towards deepening bilateral economic ties by signing a landmark mineral investment agreement to unlock Nigeria’s estimated $700 billion solid minerals potential.

The agreement was signed at Nigeria’s Mission House in New York on Wednesday by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and the United States Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau.

The new framework establishes a government-to-government foundation to drive business-to-business transactions, accelerate exploration, upgrade geological data, and expand technical capacity and local processing infrastructure across Nigeria’s mining sector.

A statement by the Special Adviser to Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Development Minister, Kehinde Bamigbetan, in Abuja on Thursday said Alake framed the pact as a long-term economic catalyst for Nigeria rather than a standard commercial deal.

‘Some agreements manage the present, and some agreements shape the future. The framework we sign today belongs to the second kind,’ Alake said. ‘In signing this Framework, Nigeria and the United States affirm a shared conviction: that the supply chains for these critical minerals must be secure, resilient, and built on responsible investment.’

Alake emphasised that Nigeria intends to move beyond being a mere exporter of unprocessed raw materials, stressing local capacity building as a central pillar of the agreement.

‘Let me be clear about Nigeria’s ambition. We are not here to remain a source of raw material for the values that others create. Our goal is to turn potential into lasting value at home through stronger local processing, new skills, quality jobs, and new opportunities for Nigerian businesses,’ he stated.

On next steps, the Minister said the pact’s success hinges on swift action to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for economic diversification.

‘Now comes the harder and more important work: moving from agreement to implementation. A signature is a promise, results are the proof. In the months ahead, we will identify viable projects, mobilise investments, and build the commercial partnerships that deliver measurable benefits to our nations,’ Alake added.

Responding on behalf of the United States government, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described Nigeria as a critical regional power whose market size and growth trajectory merit a deep strategic partnership.

‘The signal we are sending is that the United States and Nigeria are partners,’ Landau said, pointing to recent bilateral momentum. ‘Under President Trump and President Tinubu’s leadership, the United States and Nigeria have done many things together in the last one and a half years that we’ve never done before. I think we would like to keep building on that momentum.’

Key Nigerian officials witnessed the ceremony, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Yusuf Yabo; Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Simon Nkom; Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi; and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, Martin Imonitie.

The US delegation included senior diplomats and strategic advisors, such as Deputy Assistant Secretary for West African Affairs, Rich Michaels; Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southern Africa, Foreign Assistance and Critical Minerals, Chris Kulukundis; Senior Policy Advisor Wyatt Toehlkeke; and Jitu Sardar.

Why my father hid my Hausa identity-Gbenga Hashim

Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr Gbenga Hashim, has revealed the extraordinary family secret behind why his Hausa and royal identity remained concealed from him for almost three decades.

Hashim, grandson of the 40th Sarki Yauri, said his late father, Alhaji Hashim Abdullahi Yauri, deliberately kept his royal heritage away from him as a child after receiving a warning from an Islamic cleric about possible dangers within the royal family.

According to him, the cleric advised his father against exposing the child’s identity prematurely, prompting him to take what was ultimately a life-changing decision to protect his son by keeping his identity secret.

‘He chose protection over inheritance,’ Hashim said.

As a result, Hashim was relocated and raised in the Borgu Emirate under a different identity.

Although he was named Abdulmalik at birth, he grew up within a Yoruba cultural environment, largely removed from the Hausa traditions, royal connections and family history of his paternal lineage.

For almost 27 years, he said, he lived without knowing the full circumstances surrounding his identity.

The extraordinary story is detailed in Chapter 13 of his forthcoming autobiography, Sunrise At Midnight, scheduled for publication soon.

The chapter provides an account of his childhood, his father’s decision and the eventual discovery of the heritage that had been deliberately kept from him.

Hashim has previously spoken publicly about his unusual childhood. In an interview with THISDAY, he disclosed that he was born in Yelwa, Yauri, in 1969, while his father was a young police officer. He subsequently grew up with the family of his stepfather, Julius Bamidele Olawepo.

Hashim also paid tribute to his late father, whom he described as a highly influential police officer who rose to become a Police Commissioner and Commandant of the Police College, Kaduna.

Popularly known as ‘Zaki’ the Lion, Alhaji Hashim Abdullahi Yauri was widely respected across Northern Nigeria.

Hashim said the nickname reflected his father’s courage, discipline, strength and commanding personality.

Hashim and his siblings recently marked the 30th anniversary of their father’s passing with commemorative advertisements in major Nigerian newspapers.

For Hashim, the story of his father is inseparable from the story of his own identity.

The father who kept his royal lineage secret was also a man who, in Hashim’s account, carried a formidable reputation in public service.

Hashim’s account also takes him further back into the history of his paternal family, to his grandfather, Seriki Abdullahi Jibril, popularly known as Maiy Yauri.

He described his grandfather as one of the prominent traditional rulers of Northern Nigeria in his era and part of a generation of educated Northern royals who combined traditional authority with modern education, administration and commerce.

According to Hashim, Seriki Jibril, the 40th ruler of Yauri, was particularly distinguished by his knowledge of finance and trade, financial prudence, transparency and commitment to education.

He described him as a prominent royal of Hausa ancestry who was honoured with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) during the colonial period.

Hashim further recalled that British records portrayed his grandfather as an unusually independent traditional ruler who, during the Second World War, exercised a degree of administrative autonomy that distinguished him from many of his contemporaries.

But for Hashim, the story is ultimately bigger than royalty.

It is the story of a father who chose secrecy as an act of protection; a child who grew up between cultures without knowing the full story of his origins; and a family history that eventually returned to him decades later.

‘For 27 years, I lived without knowing the full story of who I was,’ Hashim said.

He said discovering his Hausa and Yauri heritage did not diminish the Yoruba cultural environment in which he was raised. Rather, it gave him a deeper understanding of the different cultural and historical strands that shaped his identity.

His story, he said, is ultimately about family, sacrifice, identity, heritage and the strange ways in which history can remain hidden for decades before finding its way back into a person’s life.

New coaches set tone for 2027 AFCON qualifiers

The 48 teams still in contention will play two rounds of qualifying during the extended international window, with another two matches scheduled for November before the final fixtures are played in March.

The top two teams in nine of the 12 qualifying groups will secure places at the 24-team tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

With the three hosts already guaranteed qualification, only one place is available in their respective groups, meaning a second-place finish may not be enough.

Renard returns to Ivory Coast

Herve Renard is among the biggest names taking charge of a national team during the qualifiers.

The Frenchman, the only coach to have won AFCON with two different countries, has returned to the Ivory Coast job 11 years after leading the Elephants to the continental title.

Renard begins his second spell with the Elephants at home against Ghana on Thursday in one of the standout fixtures of the opening round.

Carlos Queiroz will be in the opposing dugout after returning as Ghana coach following his previous spell with the Black Stars.

However, Tottenham midfielder Mohammed Kudus is among several players who have withdrawn from Ghana’s squad.

UNGA 81: Defence Minister seeks greater African ownership, funding of regional security

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), has called for greater African ownership and funding of regional security operations to end terrorism and cross-border crimes.

He said countries on the continent must increasingly take responsibility for sustaining mechanisms established to combat terrorism and other transnational threats.

Musa said this at a high-level security discussion organised by the Ministry of Defence on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) High-Level Week in New York.

The discussion, titled ‘Confronting Nigeria’s Multidimensional Security Challenges: A Whole-of-Society and Partnership-Based Approach,’ brought together diplomats, security practitioners and representatives of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS.

The panel also examined homeland security and early warning, economic security, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the need for African countries to develop security solutions suited to their specific circumstances.

The call for greater regional ownership formed part of a broader discussion on Nigeria’s multidimensional security challenges, with participants advocating stronger intelligence cooperation, improved border management, economic recovery in conflict-affected communities and greater investment in indigenous security capabilities.

In a statement on Thursday, his Media Adviser, Leah Katung-Babatunde, stressed the need for African member states to provide increased funding and support for regional mechanisms such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), even as Nigeria continues to value defence cooperation with international partners.

Musa said although the MNJTF had benefited from support from foreign partners, including the European Union, African countries must ensure that the regional security architecture does not become overly dependent on external assistance.

He said, ‘While regional mechanisms like the MNJTF receive support from foreign partners like the EU, African member states must increasingly finance and sustain their security frameworks to guarantee regional ownership.’

Musa said Nigeria’s security challenges had national, regional and global implications, making sustained cooperation among countries and international organisations essential to confronting terrorism, banditry and other emerging threats.

‘Our recognition that we cannot address these challenges alone is not a statement of dependence; rather, it is an acknowledgement of the multidimensional character of modern security threats and the importance of collective action,’ the minister said.

Musa also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to eradicating terrorism and banditry, while commending what he described as productive defence cooperation with international partners, including the United States.

The Minister said sustainable security could not be achieved through military operations alone, stressing the importance of resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development and good governance.

‘Sustainable security requires resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development, and good governance,’ Musa said.

He said the objective of the engagement was to move beyond discussions towards concrete cooperation and clearly defined responsibilities.

‘Our objective should be straightforward,’ he said. ‘We should not merely reaffirm our understanding of the challenges; we should seek to identify concrete areas of cooperation, clear responsibilities, and practical next steps.’

The Defence Minister highlighted the Federal Government’s measures to strengthen national security, including increased military recruitment, Army restructuring, state police and forest guards, unified intelligence operations, enhanced domestic defence production, drone technology for surveillance and IED detection, and a national criminal database.

Other speakers at the event called for stronger intelligence fusion, community-based border security, protection of critical national infrastructure and measures to disrupt terrorist taxation and financial networks.

Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa (Rtd.), Special Adviser on Homeland Security, advocated integrated response capabilities and citizen-reporting protection systems to improve early warning and enable authorities to anticipate emerging threats.

A former Force Commander of the MNJTF, Maj.-Gen. Khalifa Ibrahim (Rtd.), called for revitalising the regional force, implementing the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Border Management Strategy, and using community-based approaches to securing Nigeria’s borders.

Ibrahim also advocated stronger action against terrorist taxation and financial networks, which he identified as critical to weakening the operational capacity of terrorist groups.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, described economic stability as a core component of national security and proposed designated economic zones to accelerate recovery in conflict-affected areas.

Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the President and Minister of External Affairs, who moderated the discussion, recalled Nigeria’s concentric-circles foreign policy and stressed the need for Africa to position itself as an active contributor to global frameworks, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Prof. Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of Johns Hopkins University urged African countries to develop security solutions suited to their local realities rather than relying on externally designed models, while cybersecurity expert Omosigho Ozo-Eson warned against excessive dependence on foreign artificial intelligence systems.

Union Bank opens third Leasing Hub in Matara

Union Bank recently opened its third Leasing Hub in Matara, offering faster and more convenient leasing solutions to customers. Union Bank Leasing Hubs serve as dedicated one-stop centres for all leasing requirements, providing easy access, speedy service, and an enhanced customer experience. In addition to delivering greater convenience, these hubs contribute significantly to the growth of the Bank’s leasing portfolio. The new leasing hub was ceremonially opened by Chief Business Officer Asanka Ranhotty (third from left) in the presence of customers.

American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka appoints Bertram Paul as President at 34th AGM

The American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham SL) successfully held its 34th Annual General Meeting, bringing together its membership, distinguished guests, business leaders and representatives of the diplomatic community.

The AGM marked another important milestone for AmCham Sri Lanka as the Chamber reflected on a year of continued advocacy, high-level engagement and initiatives aimed at strengthening trade, investment and commercial ties between Sri Lanka and the United States. The meeting also saw the election of a new Board of Directors to lead the Chamber into its next chapter.

Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, Managing Director/CEO Bertram Paul was elected President of AmCham Sri Lanka, succeeding Sandun Hapugoda.

HSBC Sri Lanka Head of Global Network Banking Dilshan Perera, was elected Vice President, while IAS Holdings Ltd., Group Managing Director Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny was elected Secretary. Hayleys Advantis Group Management Committee, Licensee of Federal Express Corporation Advantis Express Director and CityPak representative IML Delivery Systems Director Chamila Bandara, was elected Treasurer.

Outgoing President Mastercard Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka Country Manager Sandun Hapugoda was appointed President Emeritus of AmCham Sri Lanka, ensuring continuity and the benefit of his leadership and experience on the Board.

Digiratina Technology Solutions Ltd., Managing Director Riza Wadood, Standard Chartered Bank Executive Director/Head of Corporate Coverage Tamani Dias, Citibank, N.A. Director, Country Markets Head/Treasurer Saneth Gamage, North Manufacturing Ltd., , Managing Director Hatem Rajabdeen, and JAT Holdings PLC Director Anika Williamson were re-elected as Directors and will continue to serve on the AmCham Sri Lanka Board.

Further strengthening the breadth and sectoral representation of the Board, Bank of Ceylon Chairman Kavinda De Zoysa, The Coca-Cola Company, Sri Lanka Country Manager Mario Perera, and Great Place to Work Sri Lanka Director/CEO Kshanika Ratnayaka were appointed as new Board members.

The new Board brings together senior leadership from financial services, FMCG, logistics, technology, and manufacturing, among other key sectors, reinforcing AmCham Sri Lanka’s role as a platform connecting business leadership with the advancement of US-Sri Lanka economic relations.

US-Sri Lanka partnership

The AGM takes place at an important juncture in the bilateral relationship and follows the arrival of the new United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Eric Meyer, who formally assumed his ambassadorial responsibilities in August 2026.

Upon presenting his credentials, Ambassador Meyer underscored his commitment to further strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two countries, stating: ‘The United States is proud to call Sri Lanka a friend in a partnership that has spanned more than 78 years.’

Ambassador Meyer has identified unlocking new economic opportunities as a key part of that partnership. ‘Sri Lanka has made real economic progress, but this is the moment to be more ambitious about what comes next,’ Ambassador Meyer said. ‘We want to see more American companies succeeding here-and that requires a predictable business environment and a strong private-sector voice. AmCham can be a powerful force multiplier in that effort, identifying barriers, championing reforms, and helping turn American capital, technology, and expertise into greater prosperity for both our countries.’

Ambassador Meyer’s tenure begins as the United States and Sri Lanka look to build on this momentum by expanding trade, attracting investment, and creating new opportunities for businesses and people in both countries.

Building on a year of engagement

Reflecting on his tenure, outgoing President and newly appointed President Emeritus Sandun Hapugoda stated: ‘Serving as President of AmCham Sri Lanka has been a true privilege. During 2025/26, we strengthened the Chamber’s advocacy, deepened engagement with the US Embassy and other stakeholders, and advanced trade and investment between Sri Lanka and the United States. I extend my warmest wishes to incoming President Bertram Paul and the new Board. I am confident they will build on this strong foundation and take AmCham forward. As President Emeritus, I remain fully committed to supporting them and the wider AmCham community.’

During the past year, AmCham Sri Lanka continued to strengthen its role as an important voice for the business community through policy advocacy, engagement with public and private sector stakeholders, knowledge-sharing platforms and initiatives supporting greater trade and investment between Sri Lanka and the United States.

The Chamber also continued to create opportunities for its members to engage with senior business leaders, policymakers, US Government representatives and international stakeholders, while broadening its focus on areas including trade and investment, human capital development, technology, innovation and responsible business growth.

A new chapter for AmCham Sri Lanka

Addressing the membership following his election, incoming President Bertram Paul outlined three priorities for the Chamber going forward: advocacy, by serving as a credible voice engaging policymakers on trade, investment, and reforms to boost Sri Lanka’s competitiveness; connection, by converting the Chamber’s membership network into real partnerships and business growth rather than mere networking; and investing in the next generation, through mentorship, training and opportunities for young people.

Under the leadership of the newly elected Board, AmCham Sri Lanka will continue to focus on strengthening bilateral commercial relations, supporting an enabling environment for trade and investment, advocating on issues affecting its membership, and creating high-value opportunities for collaboration between Sri Lankan and American businesses.

The 34th AGM concluded with networking among members, dignitaries and guests, marking the beginning of a new chapter for AmCham Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Bertram Paul and the newly constituted Board.

Now in its 34th year, the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham SL) stands as one of Sri Lanka’s leading business Chambers and the premier platform dedicated to fostering and advancing trade, investment and business relations between Sri Lanka and the United States.

Representing a diverse membership of leading multinational and Sri Lankan companies across key sectors of the economy, AmCham Sri Lanka works closely with its members and stakeholders to facilitate meaningful business connections, provide high-level knowledge-sharing opportunities and advocate for policies that support a competitive, transparent and investment-friendly business environment.