JXG, together with Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, launches BREAKTHROUGH to advance national entrepreneur development
(Left to right): Representing The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Manori Dissanayaka, Senior Assistant Secretary General; Dr. Nirmal De Silva, Lead Consultant; Shiran Fernando, Secretary General & CEO; and Krishan Balendra, Chairperson, exchange a cheque to mark the launch of BREAKTHROUGH with C.T.A. Schaffter, Founder & Chairman Emeritus; Ramesh Schaffter, MD/Group CEO; Dilshan Wirasekara, Deputy CEO; and Gamika De Silva, Group Chief Marketing Officer of JXG (Janashakthi Group)
JXG (Janashakthi Group), together with The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, has launched BREAKTHROUGH, a National Entrepreneur Development Programme aimed at identifying and supporting promising businesses across Sri Lanka, helping entrepreneurs overcome barriers to growth, strengthen their capabilities and realise their commercial potential.
At a time when Sri Lanka’s economic progress depends on developing competitive businesses, generating employment, creating new industries and expanding opportunities beyond domestic markets, BREAKTHROUGH represents a significant private-sector commitment to supporting the country’s entrepreneurial talent. While Sri Lanka has produced businesses that have grown into internationally recognised enterprises, many promising entrepreneurs continue to face challenges in accessing capital, professional expertise, business networks and the guidance needed to scale their operations.
The initiative draws inspiration from the entrepreneurial journey of JXG’s Founder and Chairman Emeritus, C.T.A. Schaffter, whose pioneering contributions to Sri Lanka’s insurance industry and ventures across several other business sectors helped shape the Group. Demonstrating an ability to recognise opportunities beyond his established field of insurance, Mr. Schaffter ventured into different industries, including education, manufacturing, exports and agriculture, taking calculated risks to build successful businesses. His journey reflects the entrepreneurial conviction to look beyond conventional boundaries, explore new possibilities and turn opportunities into successful business ventures.
Ramesh Schaffter, Managing Director/Group CEO of JXG, said, “The entrepreneurial journey of our Founder and Chairman Emeritus, C.T.A. Schaffter, has taught us that building a business requires the courage to pursue opportunities beyond what is familiar, take bold decisions and commit to turning an idea into something tangible. His decision to venture into the dairy industry while building his career in insurance, founding Kotmale in 1978, is a reflection of that mindset.
“Look at what Sri Lankan entrepreneurs have achieved. Expolanka grew from a fresh produce business into a global logistics operation. Virtusa, co-founded by Sri Lankan Kris Canekeratne, developed from a small team working between Boston and Colombo into a global technology company. Vega Innovations took on the ambitious challenge of developing an electric supercar through local engineering capabilities. These businesses did not begin at the scale at which we know them today. They grew because people were prepared to think beyond existing boundaries, take risks and pursue opportunities that others might have considered difficult to achieve.
“We need to create more opportunities for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to take those steps. There are businesses across the country with the potential to grow, innovate, create employment and make a meaningful contribution to the economy. Yet, many need access to capital, professional expertise and experienced guidance to move beyond their current capabilities. Through BREAKTHROUGH, JXG is making its business experience and professional capabilities available in support of this national cause. Together with The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, we want to give promising entrepreneurs the means and guidance to take their businesses further. We want to see more homegrown businesses develop into significant enterprises, creating value for themselves and for Sri Lanka. This is how we put our purpose of ‘Breaking Barriers, Forging Futures.’ into action.”
BREAKTHROUGH brings together JXG’s experience in building and managing businesses with The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce’s extensive business network and institutional reach. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce also welcomes ecosystem partners to contribute their expertise, resources and networks to support the programme and advance this national initiative.
The programme will adopt a nationwide approach, covering all nine provinces and focusing on two categories: existing businesses, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and start-ups. Businesses operating in the manufacturing and services sectors will be eligible to participate. The selection process will include provincial-level assessments, followed by workshops, mentoring and business development sessions for shortlisted applicants. Final selections will be made by an expert panel constituted for the programme, assessing business viability, innovation, scalability, sustainability, ethical practices and potential economic and community impact.
A total of LKR 70 million will be awarded as funding to 20 selected businesses, with individual funds ranging from LKR 1 million to LKR 5 million. Allocations will be determined according to each business’s requirements, development stage, growth objectives and potential impact.
Beyond financial assistance, selected businesses will participate in a structured 12-month post-award development programme, providing access to mentoring, investor networks, banking and insurance support, professional expertise and quarterly progress reviews. JXG’s senior leadership and professionals across its businesses will contribute expertise in finance, human resources, information technology, marketing and legal services. This support is intended to help businesses address operational challenges, strengthen governance, improve decision-making and prepare for sustainable growth.
Shiran Fernando, Secretary General/CEO of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, said, “Sri Lanka’s economic progress will depend significantly on our ability to develop competitive enterprises and enable businesses to access wider markets both locally and globally. While entrepreneurial talent exists across the country, many businesses require access to finance, professional expertise, mentoring and commercial networks to move beyond their current scale.
“We appreciate JXG for taking the initiative to establish this national programme and for recognising The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce’s capabilities and extensive business network. BREAKTHROUGH offers a structured approach to identifying promising enterprises across all nine provinces and supporting their development through financial funds and a year-long programme of professional guidance. We believe this initiative can make a meaningful contribution to business growth, employment generation and the development of more competitive Sri Lankan enterprises.”
Through BREAKTHROUGH, JXG and The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce seek to make professional business support and growth opportunities more accessible to entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka, helping promising enterprises translate ambition into commercial progress and contribute to the country’s economic development.
Applications will open on 11 November 2026 and close on 20 January 2027. Further information on eligibility, application requirements, the selection process and programme timelines is available on the official JXG website, www.jxg.lk.