"(BPA) meetings have realized understanding among the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim
Business Communities, besides building bridges of understanding where there had
been misunderstanding and wide rift. Thus mutual understanding has gradually
dispelled fear and suspicion."
—Jaffna Chamber of Commerce
The BPA is a working group of representatives from Regional Chambers of Commerce,
representing all Sri Lanka’s provinces, which is fostering reconciliation through business-
to-business links, local ownership, and corporate social responsibility.
The group has convened about every two months since its inception in November 2002,
with meeting venues rotating between members’ regions.
The BPA has a series of ongoing practical projects that combine private sector interests
with a commitment to conflict transformation and regional inclusion in peace and
economic policy making (see BPA Projects page).
BPA participants are influential members of the local communities in which they operate.
They are well connected socially and have access to politicians, officials, international
organisations and other decision makers in Colombo. They are, therefore, part of a
network connected vertically to both the grassroots and the commanding heights. They
also have horizontal connections with the conflicting parties.
The BPA is clearly a regional network intended to work complementary to Colombo based
institutions and initiatives related to Peace and Regional Empowerment.
The core group of BPA founders were chosen because of their leadership qualities and
commitment to the cause they believe in: "Peace is necessary for economic development
of the regions, and economic development of the regions is necessary for sustaining
peace in the country".
The BPA’s distinguishing characteristics:
Business Communities, besides building bridges of understanding where there had
been misunderstanding and wide rift. Thus mutual understanding has gradually
dispelled fear and suspicion."
—Jaffna Chamber of Commerce
The BPA is a working group of representatives from Regional Chambers of Commerce,
representing all Sri Lanka’s provinces, which is fostering reconciliation through business-
to-business links, local ownership, and corporate social responsibility.
The group has convened about every two months since its inception in November 2002,
with meeting venues rotating between members’ regions.
The BPA has a series of ongoing practical projects that combine private sector interests
with a commitment to conflict transformation and regional inclusion in peace and
economic policy making (see BPA Projects page).
BPA participants are influential members of the local communities in which they operate.
They are well connected socially and have access to politicians, officials, international
organisations and other decision makers in Colombo. They are, therefore, part of a
network connected vertically to both the grassroots and the commanding heights. They
also have horizontal connections with the conflicting parties.
The BPA is clearly a regional network intended to work complementary to Colombo based
institutions and initiatives related to Peace and Regional Empowerment.
The core group of BPA founders were chosen because of their leadership qualities and
commitment to the cause they believe in: "Peace is necessary for economic development
of the regions, and economic development of the regions is necessary for sustaining
peace in the country".
The BPA’s distinguishing characteristics:
- Non-hierarchical and non-partisan;
- Island-wide, province- and district-based;
- Committed to fostering links between business and peace;
- Composed of participants who represent their Chambers or other business
associations; - Committed to promote and practice Corporate Social Responsibility.
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| " Love thy neighbour as thy self." Jesus Christ |
| Website Created and Maintained as a CSR Project by Members of the BPA Operations Committee |
| Overview |
"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." Mother Teresa Nobel Peace Prize 1979 |
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