The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) was founded in 1948 soon after Sri Lanka gained independence from British colonial rule, primarily to establish a forum for the Sri Lankan business community. The foremost objective of the Chamber at that time was the Ceylonisation of trade, as the policy climate was not quite conducive to national interests. The Founder Members comprised of all leading ethnic groups, Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and Burgher. In 1955, the Chamber was formally incorporated as a Company Limited.