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Ceylon Chamber requests patience from companies before shutting shop

12 Sep 2022

 
  • Urges not to resort to suspension of operations in Sri Lanka
  • Statement follows Decathlon’s announcement of local adieu
  • CEO says measures being taken to address economic crisis
  By Imsha Iqbal    The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) requested import-dependent companies to be patient without resorting to suspension of operations in Sri Lanka due to the prevailing crisis, following Decathlon, a French sporting goods retail company, deciding to suspend all its operations in Sri Lanka “indefinitely” from 30 October 2022 onwards.  Speaking to The Morning Business, CCC CEO Manjula De Silva stated: “We request such companies to be patient as these are temporary situations. Measures are being taken to address the current economic crisis.” In a statement on its Facebook page for Sri Lanka last Saturday (10), the sports retail company said: “Due to the ongoing situation in the country, it has become impossible for us to resupply our product ranges.” Decathlon has been operating in Sri Lanka since October 2018, operating through two stores in Colombo, as well as a website. However, one store located in Union Place was closed on 31 July 2022, leaving only the store in Battaramulla. Their statement further said that the company is committed in supporting its local employees in terms of relocating its local production sites and returning their employment in moving outside Decathlon along with its other teams of employees. While expressing gratitude to its clients, Decathlon said: “The welcome reserved for our concept and our products was amazing and we sincerely hope to restart our retail activities in Sri Lanka when circumstances permit.”  Decathlon has been in the industry for the past 40 years, offering sports goods of cycling, exercise, golfing, outdoor sports, precision sports, run and walk, skates, team sports, and water and winter sports.


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