SUMMARISED BIO (BROWSE DOWN FOR EXTENDED)
Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Rishad Bathiudeen MP is the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement Of Protracted Displaced Persons & Cooperative Development Skills Development and Vocational Training of Sri Lanka. Minister Bathiudeen first took over his portfolio in 2011 and has become the only Lankan Parliamentarian & Cabinet Minister to hold this portfolio four times in a row until he stepped down in June 2019 with other Muslim Ministers, and with his re-appointed on 29 July, he re-gained this portfolio for the fifth time in a row.
Along with other Muslim Ministers of the Government, he too stepped down in June 2019 protesting failure of authorities to guarantee the security of Muslim community after April 2019 Easter Sunday Bombings.
His Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons & Cooperative Development Skills Development and Vocational Training plays an important role in the business and consumer sectors of Sri Lanka as well as the more than one million SMEs and MSMEs of the country.
Under his Ministry’s purview were the welfare of consumers and business sector (though Consumer Affairs Authority, the Company Registrar, the Measurement Units, Standards & Services Department), international trade (through the Department of Commerce), industrial development (through Industrial Development Board and 25 Industrial Zones across the country), SMEs and entrepreneurship (through National Enterprise Development Authority-NEDA). the cooperative sector (through the Cooperative Development Commissioner) and Skills Development and Vocational Trainng.
Also under the Ministry’s purview is Sri Lanka’s largest state owned retail giant LANKA SATHOSA as well as the state owned national wholesale leader, the CWE.
Since taking over the portfolio in 2011, Minister Bathiudeen has been promoting Sri Lankan industries to play a bigger role in its GDP. Playing his international trade promotion role, he represented Sri Lanka in several global, multilateral and regional foras bringing global attention to the country liberal market economy and growth.In July 2016, addressing the once in four year UNCTAD14 Ministerial meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, he stressed Sri Lanka’s optimism to reach Sustainable Development Targets for 2030, with the active engagement and capacity development assistance by the international agencies. More recently, he introduced domestic Anti-Dumping legislation for Sri Lanka, ensuring transparent global trade.
Rishad Bathiudeen,M.P is also the Leader of ACMC (www.acmc.lk) and an emergent Muslim political leader who already entered the Global Muslim 500 rankings. He has been a voice for Lankan Muslim community, at national levels-including for Northern Muslim IDPs.
Minister Bathiudeen addresses #UNCTAD14 in Nairobi, Kenya
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EXTENDED BIO
Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Rishad Bathiudeen MP was the former Minister of Industry and Commerce Resettlement Of Protracted Displaced Persons & Cooperative Development Skills Development and Vocational Training of Sri Lanka. He took over his portfolio for the first time in 2011 and has become the only Lankan Parliamentarian & Cabinet Minister to hold this portfolio four times in a row until he stepped down in June 2019!
Along with other Muslim Ministers of the Government, he too stepped down in June 2019 protesting failure of authorities to guarantee the security of Muslim community after April 2019 Easter Sunday Bombings.
His Ministry of Industry and Commerce plays an important role in the business and consumer sectors of Sri Lanka as well as the more than one million unit strong SMEs and MSMEs of the country.
In addition, he champions humanitarian issues in Sri Lanka-specifically, giving leadership to resettlement of Sri Lanka’s neglected Northern Muslims (the forgotten Muslims of Sri Lanka), a brief on his domestic and international role as the Cabinet Minister of one of the most important official portfolios in Sri Lanka- the Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka-and as the National Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) to Sri Lanka’s decades old political landscape –specially in Muslim Community politics of Sri Lanka.
AS AN EMERGENT MUSLIM COMMUNITY LEADER
Rishad Bathiudeen,M.P. is in the forefront of the battle in emerging religious extremism in Sri Lanka.
In his personal capacity –and more importantly as the leader of All Ceylon Muslim Congress- he has called upon on many occasions on the authorities to enforce the law to everyone alike and appoint commissions of inquiry into the post war incidents against the minorities in general and the Muslim community in particular.
ONE EXAMPLE NEWS REFERENCE AT:
http://www.ft.lk/2014/04/16/rishad-condemns-unruly-disruption-wants-commission-of-inquiry/
He has almost fought face to face against the extremist religious organization in Sri Lanka and has since gained respect among the Muslim community of Sri Lanka for rising up against such events in Aluthgama , in Digana-Kandy.
“Colombo Gazette-12 June: “Minister questions the Government”
http://colombogazette.com/2014/04/12/rishad-questions-the-government/
Financial Times –April 16, 2014-“Rishad condemns unruly disruption, wants Commission of Inquiry”
http://www.ft.lk/2014/04/16/rishad-condemns-unruly-disruption-wants-commission-of-inquiry/
NEWS REFERENCE AT: [THE NATION NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN COLOMBO, APRIL 2014]
http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/28199-bathiudeen-challenges-the-bodu-bala-sena.html
NEWS REFERENCE AT: [THE ISLAND NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN COLOMBO, APRIL 2014]
“Rishad condemns forcible entry”
www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=102086
Lanka Business Today’s report: Minister Bathiudeen demands Rs. 500 million or Apology from Bodu Bala Sena
NEWS REFERENCE AT: [THE ISLAND NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN COLOMBO, APRIL 2014]
http://www.lbt.lk/news/politics/6584-sri-lanka-minister-rishad-bathiudeen-demand-us-38-mn-or-apology-form-bodu-bala-sena
AS A CHAMPION OF MUSLIM IDP HUMANITARIAN ISSUES IN SRI LANKA
Prior to assuming duties as the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen,M.P. previously held the portfolio of Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services. Under this Ministry, in his capacity as Co-Chair of the Consultative Committee for Humanitarian Affairs (CCHA) – IDP relief services, during the most critical points of the war from 2005-2009, he successfully supported the co-ordination of the supply of emergency humanitarian relief services to approximately 300,000 internally displaced persons. His efforts in this immediate post war resettlement has won him kudos from local and international parties.
Even though he is not the Minister of Resettlement anymore, he still actively supports resolution of Muslim IDP issues.
REFERENCE NEWS REPORT
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_18A/Jun06_1528296761CH.php
AS THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE OF SRI LANKA
His Ministry of Industry and Commerce plays an important role in the business and consumer sectors of Sri Lanka as well as the more than one million unit strong SMEs and MSMEs of the country.
Under the Ministry’s purview are the welfare of consumers and business sector (though Consumer Affairs Authority, the Company Registrar, Office of National Intellectual Property which works closely with the World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO, the Measurement Units, Standards & Services Department), international trade (through the Department of Commerce), industrial development (through Industrial Development Board and 25 Industrial Zones across the country), SMEs and entrepreneurship (through National Enterprise Development Authority-NEDA). and the cooperative sector (through the Cooperative Development Commissioner).
Also under the Ministry’s purview is Sri Lanka’s largest state owned retail giant LANKA SATHOSA as well as the state owned national wholesale leader, the CWE. For the first time in LANKA SATHOSA’S history, he secured US assistance for the retail chain.
REFERENCE
http://www.ft.lk/business/Lanka-Sathosa-breaks-new-ground-by-securing-US-assistance/34-655937
When developing Lankan entrepreneurship through NEDA, he works to enlist the Private sector, even multinationals.
REFERENCE
http://www.ft.lk/business/Cement-giant-throws-support-behind-major-entrepreneur-drive/34-654208
He actively promotes consumer protection in his role as Commerce Minister. He stresses the need for awareness of consumer rights, through the Consumer Affairs Authority under him.
REFERENCE
http://www.ft.lk/business/Geneva-ITC-calls-for-opening-of-Sri-Lanka-e-commerce-gateways/34-651334
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_18A/Apr13_1523600520CH.php
Since taking over the portfolio of Minister of Industry and Commerce in 2011, Rishad Bathiudeen,M.P. promotes international trade. in this role he stressed the need for e-commerce use as well.
REFERENCE
http://www.ft.lk/business/Geneva-ITC-calls-for-opening-of-Sri-Lanka-e-commerce-gateways/34-651334
He has been in the forefront in representing Sri Lanka in several global, multilateral and regional foras. In August 2013 Minister Bathiudeen took over the Chairmanship of the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Ministerial Council.
In April 2018 he took part in Commonwealth’s CHOGM 2018 in London and promoted Lankan economy.
REFERENCE
http://www.ft.lk/business/Biggest-Lankan-delegation-at-London-s-Commonwealth-Business-Forum/34-653730
He enacted anti-dumping laws in Sri Lanka after years of preparation.
REFERENCE
http://www.ft.lk/front-page/Sri-Lanka-finally-enacts-landmark-anti-dumping-legislation/44-651075
Minister Bathiudeen was also instrumental in enlisting the support of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to secure copyright, patents and Geographical Indicators for Sri Lanka’s designs, creations and export product-lines i.e. Pure Ceylon Cinnamon, Pure Ceylon Tea, and in progress is an initiative to ensure Geographical Indicators for Ceylon Blue Sapphires.
Minister Bathiudeen is focused on introducing new hi tech to Sri Lankan industries. In May 2018, he encouraged a globally renowned Japanese Electric Vehicle battery producer to invest in Sri Lanka.
REFERENCE
http://www.ft.lk/front-page/Japanese-startup-plans-SL-s-first-EV-plant-for-smart-tuk-tuks/44-654408
He promotes local products for global industrial buyers.
REFERENCE
http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Slovak-automotive-industry-expresses-interest-in-Lankan-rubber-tyres-147935.html
He was also entrusted with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) for a while, and at present, he supports trade development though the Department of Commerce under his Ministry. During this time, after a lapse of over fifteen years Minister Bathiudeen revived the Sri Lanka Expo, a mega trade, investment and tourism promotion initiative, which was staged under the theme of “Partnering with the Hub of Asia” (for year 2012) with the participation of 1385 international visitors including trade buyers, ministerial delegations, investors, foreign employment companies and outbound tour operators from across the world. In 2014, he gave leadership to “Reflection of Sri Lanka” international expo held in Sri Lanka in parallel to Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013 in Colombo.
REFERENCE NEWS REPORT:
“$ 20 b export target set for 2020 with effective nation branding”
http://www.ft.lk/2011/04/09/20-b-export-target-set-for-2020-with-effective-nation-branding/
Thanks to Minister Bathiudeen’s guidance, Sri Lanka’s exports have been on a steady rise. For instance, in the first quarter of 2014, national exports increased by 16%.
REFERENCE NEWS REPORT:
“Q1 exports up by 16%, March alone jumps by 27%”
http://www.ft.lk/2014/05/12/q1-exports-up-by-16-march-alone-jumps-by-27/
REFERENCE NEWS REPORTS:
‘Reflection of Sri Lanka’ a roaring success”
http://www.ft.lk/2013/11/20/reflection-of-sri-lanka-a-roaring-success/
“Big draw for biggest Sri Lanka brand push!”
http://www.ft.lk/2013/10/31/big-draw-for-biggest-sri-lanka-brand-push/
REFERENCE NEWS REPORT:
“Industry and Commerce Ministry’s agencies emerge with stronger annual performance”
http://www.ft.lk/2013/12/21/industry-and-commerce-ministrys-agencies-emerge-with-stronger-annual-performance/
A keen advocate for ensuring Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in diverse sectors, the Minister launched the first ever workforce Privilege card in the country for the 350000 strong apparel sector, ensuring special benefits with initially, 16 major vendors.
REFERENCE NEWS REPORT:
“New privilege card for apparel sector employees”
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/131006/business-times/new-privilege-card-for-apparel-sector-employees-64475.html
Minister Bathiudeen is making every effort through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to ensure that Sri Lanka is an established commercial hub in the region, through an integrated and co-ordinated response with relevant sectors such as tourism, investment and trade.
AS A POLITICAL PERSONALITY-LEADER OF ALL CEYLON MAKKAL CONGRESS (ACMC – www.acmc.lk)
Minister Bathiudeen is the leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (http://acmc.lk), and more importantly, in Muslim Community Politics.
For instance, in the western provincial elections of Sri Lanka (March 2013), the ACMC, contested alone without a membership base in Colombo and won a seat. This was also the first time that ACMC contested outside the north and east provinces of Sri Lanka and the first time that ACMC contested under its own symbol -the Peacock.
In 2018’s local government elections, ACMC increased its LG representatives by almost four-fold; from previous 69 to 169.
The ACMC’s national Parliamentary standing as of 2019 May is five parliamentarians (MPs).
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Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress