THE A LIST

CAPTAINS OF BUSINESS IN 2021

LMD pays tribute to 50 Sri Lankan businesspeople who continue to drive the nation’s engine of growth

Following an arduous year with unprecedented challenges in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic that brought major segments of the economy to a virtual standstill, 2021 also had its share of obstacles on the healthcare and economic fronts among others.

Despite the various stumbling blocks, Sri Lanka’s corporate sector has continued to display its resilience. Amid lockdowns and restrictions on business activities imposed throughout the year as the country looked to engineer an economic recovery while the roll out of an islandwide immunisation campaign progressed, the private sector has conti­nued to move forward in a bid to help the economy get back on track.

STATE OF PLAY Sri Lanka’s economy grew by 12.3 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2021, according to the Department of Census and Statistics. This uptick was reported against the backdrop of the 16.4 percent recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year when economic activity by and large came to a halt due to islandwide restrictions imposed to control the spread of the virus.

The services sector was the chief contributor to GDP (57.9%) although many activities in the segment were in the process of recovering with restrictions being eased gradually following the surge in cases towards the end of April. Meanwhile, industry and agriculture followed with contributions of 22.1 percent and 8.1 percent respectively.

However, Sri Lanka is facing a debilitating forex crisis with reserves falling to US$ 2.3 billion at the end of October, marking a depletion of more than 400 million dollars from the previous month and 65 percent versus the same period in 2020. This figure does not include a US$ 1.5 billion swap with the People’s Bank of China, which may be used to service upcoming debt repayments.

Meanwhile, Moody’s recently downgraded Sri Lanka’s long-term foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings from ‘Caa1 under review for downgrade’ to ‘Caa2,’ stating that the “absence of comprehensive financing to meet the government’s forthcoming significant maturities in the context of very low foreign exchange reserves raises default risks.”

“The risk that foreign exchange reserves will continue to fall and increase the likelihood of default remains material, since the foreign exchange inflows available so far are generally piecemeal in the case of swaps and bilateral loans, and uncertain in the case of non-debt generating inflows,” the rating agency notes.

HALL OF FAME This year end edition of LMD pays tribute to the country’s corporate front-runners in 2021. Dubbed ‘Captains of Business,’ our A List of Sri Lankan businesspeople is based on nominations received from the magazine’s contributors, as well as an in-house think tank led by the editorial and senior management teams.

In the 2021 hall of fame, LMD showcases 50 leaders from among the best in Sri Lanka’s corporate and professional communities.

LMD’s collective think tank works on the basis of nominating those who helm the nation’s best in class business houses for financial performance (with the LMD 100 being a key point of reference), corporate respect (LMD’s Most Respected rankings come into play here) and branding successes (from our Brands Annual, which is compiled in collaboration with Brand Finance).

Other dimensions including entrepreneurship, the spirit of innovation, major accolades in the recent past and all else that make for inspiring leadership are also taken into consideration in compiling the A List each year.

A LIST PROFILE In this edition’s roll call of the island’s leading business personalities, we pay homage to leaders from diverse fields.

The 2021 lineup is led by representatives of Sri Lanka’s diversified companies who are followed by the banking sector. Meanwhile, apparel, and construction and engineering, also feature prominently, alongside domains such as tea, financial services, ICT, healthcare, retail and telecommunications.

When it comes to designations, the majority of leading businesspeople are chairpersons, managing directors or members of the corporate C-Suite.

Moreover, the vast majority of these personalities operate in the private sector while two represent the state sector.

Reflecting the diversity of the private sector, the 2021 A Listers span at least two generations and includes a former Sri Lankan Of The Year; but on the gender front, only five out of the 50 strong list are women. Sri Lanka’s ‘Business Hall of Fame’ is also graced by a triad of siblings – viz. the Coorays, Pandithages and Selvanathans.

– LMD

 

Tyeab Akbarally

Laying claim to considerable experience in the import and export trade, Tyeab Akbarally has served as a senior Director of Akbar Brothers as well as its subsidiaries over a time frame of more than 35 years. In addition to this, he counts strong business ties with Middle Eastern nations and has held leading positions in the local commercial sector – including Chairman of the Spice and Allied Products Traders’ Association (SAPTA) and Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA).

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Alles

Possessing more than 30 years of experience in the local and international banking arena, Jonathan Alles was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hatton National Bank in 2013. Additionally, he is a Director of the Lanka Financial Services Bureau, and the Chairman of Lanka Ventures and LVL Energy Fund. Alles is also a member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID), and the Advisory Committee of the Sri Lanka Business and Biodiversity Platform.

 

 

 

 

Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean

Having earned a reputation for being a visionary who nurtures communities, Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean is committed to creating a sustainable future for the next generation. This led to him being conferred the Humanitarian Award at the FEMMY Awards in 2019. Amalean was also one of five global business leaders recognised with the award for Cultural Change for Empowerment at the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP) inaugural Leadership Awards and among the World Business Magazine’s Top 20 Progressive Asian Leaders.

 

 

 

 

Harsha Amarasekera

The Chairman of Sampath Bank and a President’s Counsel, Harsha Amarasekera is an eminent legal practitioner with a wide range of expertise – encompassing commercial, business, securities, banking and intellectual property law – in the original as well as appellate courts. Amarasekera serves as an independent director of several leading companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) including CIC Holdings, Swisstek, Vallibel One, Expolanka Holdings, Chevron Lubricants Lanka, Royal Ceramics Lanka and Ambeon Capital.

 

 

 

 

Krishan Balendra

Krishan Balendra was appointed Chairman of John Keells Holdings (JKH) in 2019, having joined the group in 2002 as the Head of Corporate Finance following stints at UBS (Hong Kong) and Aitken Spence. He is also the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Sri Lanka, a former Chairman of Nations Trust Bank and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), and holds a degree from the University of London and an MBA from INSEAD.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Harsha Cabral

President’s Counsel Dr. Harsha Cabral has contributed immensely to academia and the corporate community as a legal practitioner with over 25 years’ experience. He is said to be one the chief architects of the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007. Cabral was appointed a member of the International Court of Arbitration at the World Council of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in 2015. In addition, he has authored several publications covering company, intellectual property, international trade and commercial law, and commercial arbitration.

 

 

 

 

Hiran Cooray

Carrying on the legacy of his father – the late Herbert Cooray – Hiran Cooray is considered to be an expert on Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. He represented Sri Lanka as the Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) from 2010 to 2012 and was awarded life membership for his leadership – the association’s highest honour. A former President of the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), he was also appointed an Alternate Member of the UNWTO – World Committee on Tourism Ethics (2013-2017) and holds over 50 directorships in hospitality related companies.

 

 

 

Shiromal Cooray

Shiromal Cooray is among Sri Lanka’s most accomplished professionals in the travel and hospitality sector. Beginning her career at J. Walter Thompson Sri Lanka, she later took the reins of Jetwing Travels. A past President of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) and Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), Cooray is a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK (CIMA) and holds an MBA from the University of Colombo.

 

 

 

 

Eshana De Silva

Appointed as the Chairman of National Development Bank last year, Eshana De Silva played a pivotal role at Pan Asia Bank as a Director, Deputy Chairman and Chairman in 2008, 2012 and 2016 respectively, while serving as a Director of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) between 2007 and 2013. Moreover, De Silva serves in the capacity of Chairman of several companies including the ESNA Group, Hanjin Shipping Lanka, Star Leisure and Esna Holidays. He has also been the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Kazakhstan since 2011.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa

Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa boasts four decades’ experience in executive management and 36 years in the healthcare sector. Under his leadership, the Nawaloka Group has set benchmarks in Sri Lanka and across the South Asian region. Dharmadasa holds an honorary doctorate from the Swinburne University of Technology, and serves as the Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Chairman of the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka and Honorary Consul for Singapore.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake

Leading shipping and logistics professional Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake was appointed Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence in 2019. The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Fiji, he is also a professor in maritime studies at the Shanghai Maritime University and Dalian Maritime University. In addition to being a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK (CIM), Dissanayake was the first non-British international President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers UK (ICS).

 

 

 

 

Jegan Durairatnam

A veteran banker with extensive experience covering all aspects of international trade, offshore banking, credit and operations, Jegan Durairatnam is renowned for his leadership qualities, an eye for innovation and business ethics. Following his 36 years of service at Commercial Bank of Ceylon, he was appointed to the board of DFCC Bank in 2018 and the role of Chairman the following year. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Peradeniya and an Executive Diploma from the University of Colombo.

 

 

 

 

Husein Esufally

A leading personality in Sri Lanka’s business community, Husein Esufally has been instrumental in transforming the family centric enterprise Hemas Holdings into one of the country’s leading blue-chip conglomerates. Having joined the group in 1981, he has provided leadership as the Chief Executive Officer between 2001 and 2014, and presently serves as Chairman of Hemas Holdings. Esufally holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in electronics from the University of Sussex.

 

 

 

 

Kumudika Fernando

Kumudika Fernando has been recognised for her efforts in contributing to the local economy – through her involvement as the Managing Director of Maliban Biscuit Manufactories – being named Business Role Model of the Year at the Professional and Career Women Awards 2016 as a result. A proponent of innovation and product development, she pioneered and implemented an ERP system to integrate Maliban’s functions. She pursued higher studies in Singapore and the US, and holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology.

 

 

 

 

Deshamanya Merrill J.Fernando

He was one of the first Sri Lankan tea tasters to be selected to learn about tea in Mincing Lane, London. In addition, he’s an entrepreneur and a humanitarian who is widely recognised for his commitment to the tea industry, and enthusiasm for the dignified empowerment of underprivileged people around Sri Lanka. Indeed, Deshamanya Merrill J. Fernando’s name is etched in Sri Lanka’s corporate history and known beyond the island’s shores.

 

 

 

 

Rohan Fernando

Rohan Fernando was appointed a Director and the Chairman of SLT-Mobitel last year. He is a veteran tea exporter with over 40 years of experience in the tea industry, having enjoyed local and international success. Fernando is the Chairman of HVA Food, which is known for its Heladiv branded tea and serves as a Director of several organisations including Ceylinco General Insurance. Furthermore, he served as President of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) in 2008/09.

 

 

 

 

Suren Fernando

Suren Fernando was appointed CEO of MAS Holdings in 2020 – an evolution of his role as Chief Transformation Officer. Formerly the Chief Executive Officer of MAS Intimates, which is the largest division of the apparel conglomerate, he counts nearly two decades with the apparel manufacturer. Fernando is armed with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Moratuwa and is a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants – UK (CIMA).

 

 

 

 

Rajaseelan Gnanam

Rajaseelan Gnanam lays claim to more than 30 years’ experience in the fields of business management, strategic planning, and social and economic research. He holds a number of positions in Sri Lanka’s corporate sphere including Chairman of South Asian Investment, Orion City, St. Anthony’s Hardware and Capital City Holdings, as well as Managing Director of Tokyo Cement, St. Anthony’s Consolidated, St. Anthony’s Hydro Power and Sofia Hospitality among other companies.

 

 

 

 

Vish Govindasamy

The Group Managing Director of diversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings, Vish Govindasamy also serves as the Chairman and a Director of many of its subsidiary companies. Years of international experience in finance and management have enabled him to excel as a leader. He presently serves as the Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), and is a member of the Institute of Certified Professional Managers of Sri Lanka (CPM Sri Lanka).

 

 

 

 

Ajith Gunawardena

Ajith Gunawardena has helped transform Sri Lanka’s insurance landscape, playing a role in introducing the concept of a sales force as well as on the spot claims settlement. He joined the Ceylinco Group in 1978 as a Sales Manager and was appointed Director in Charge of the General Division of Ceylinco Insurance nine years later. Gunawardena is an honorary fellow member of the ICBT Campus and an associate member of the College of Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK.

 

 

 

 

Aelian Gunawardene

As the Managing Director of JAT Holdings, Aelian Gunawardene is considered to be the driving force behind the conglomerate’s growth across several key sectors and regional markets. He is a marketing professional with over two decades’ experience in marketing and management, and holds a Diploma in Marketing Management from the Chartered Institute of Marketing – UK (CIM). Gunawardene was conferred the Platinum Award at the 22nd Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) in 2017.

 

 

 

Mahesh Hirdaramani

Mahesh Hirdaramani is the Chairman of the Hirdaramani Group – a US$ 750 million multi-country apparel manufacturer with 35 facilities across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam. He also serves as a director of many of the group’s subsidiary companies. Moreover, he is the Deputy Chairman of the Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAFSL) and a Council Member of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), representing the Garments and Textiles segment under the Manufacturing Sector.

 

 

 

 

Deshamanya Harry Jayawardena

Deshamanya Harry Jayawardena is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Stassen Group, which comprises leading enterprises in diverse fields. Believed to be among the wealthiest individuals in Sri Lanka, he is the Honorary Consul for Denmark in Sri Lanka. In 2010, Jayawardena was knighted by the Queen of Denmark, receiving the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Dannebrog for his contribution to the Danish arts, sciences and business life.

 

 

 

 

Kapila Jayawardena

The Group Managing Director and CEO of LOLC Holdings, Kapila Jayawardena possesses local and international experience in the fields of investment banking, banking operations, audit, relationship management, corporate finance, corporate banking, treasury management, capital market operations, and the construction and financing of real estate projects. He holds an MBA in Financial Management, and is a fellow member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL) and an associate member of the Institute of Cost and Executive Accountants in the UK (ICEA).

 

 

 

Dilith Jayaweera

A lawyer by profession and an entrepreneur, Dilith Jayaweera is a prominent figure in the country’s advertising industry. Cofounding Triad Advertising in 1993 – which is positioned as the country’s first local advertising house – Jayaweera forayed into the corporate arena while he was  a student at the Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo. Over the years, he has been involved in diversified business verticals – viz. media, hospitality, exports, pharmaceuticals, beauty care, property and real estate, and manufacturing

 

 

 

 

Manil Jayesinghe

Manil Jayesinghe possesses more than 35 years of professional experience and is the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), having previously served as a Council Member of the institute. Overseeing the banking and financial services practice of Ernst & Young as Head of Assurance, he took the reins of the firm as Country Managing Partner on 1 July. Jayesinghe’s contributions extend to overseas regions as well.

 

 

 

 

Deshabandu M. G. Kularatne

Deshabandu M. G. Kularatne established an iconic name in Sri Lanka’s construction industry – Maga Engineering – which employs more than 10,000 professionals and has transformed over 2,000 kilometres of the country’s road network. Kularatne is a graduate of the University of Ceylon, following which he joined the Sri Lanka Army and secured the rank of captain. Having handled over 400 multidisciplinary construction projects, his company has helped pave the way for sustainable construction here in Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

 

Reyaz Mihular

Reyaz Mihular is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). He is the Managing Partner of KPMG Sri Lanka and functions as the Head of IFRS for the KPMG Middle East & South Asia (MESA) region. With expertise ranging from advisory, government and public sector, and infrastructure to international markets among several others, he also served on the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESB) and International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC).

 

 

 

Ishara Nanayakkara

Ishara Nanayakkara is a visionary entrepreneur whose business acumen has influenced several companies across various industries. He joined the board of LOLC Holdings in 2002 and since then, has helmed it to being one of the most profitable conglomerates in the country. At present, Nanayakkara is the Deputy Chairman of LOLC Holdings and serves on the boards of diverse ventures. He holds a Diploma in Business Accounting from Dandenong College (Australia).

 

 

 

 

Ashroff  Omar

Apart from his role as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Brandix Lanka – one of Sri Lanka’s apparel giants – Ashroff Omar was the Founder Chairman of the Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAFSL). Taking the global apparel industry by storm, he played a role in paving the path for environmentally-friendly manufacturing by developing an eco-friendly LEED certified platinum rated manufacturing facility. Furthermore, Omar serves on the boards of multiple corporates in the country.

 

 

 

 

Ranjit Page

Ranjit Page is the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of CT Holdings, and Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cargills (Ceylon). Furthermore, he sits on the board of numerous corporates including Kotmale Holdings. Page’s nearly 40 years of experience in food retailing and production consists of a milestone achievement in Sri Lanka’s retail market, having helped pioneer the concept of supermarket purchasing among local shoppers. In addition to this, he is the Founder of Mawbima Lanka Foundation.

 

 

 

 

Mohan Pandithage

The Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys, Mohan Pandithage is a celebrated corporate professional and fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport – UK (CILT). He is a member of and has served the American Bureau of Shipping, presidential committee on maritime matters, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and council of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC). Pandithage is credited for the success of Hayleys Advantis and revered for his contribution to the company. He is the Honorary Consul of the United Mexican States (Mexico) to Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

Ranjith Pandithage

The present Chairman and Managing Director of Diesel & Motor Engineering (DIMO), a position he secured in 2012, Ranjith Pandithage has served the company since 1973 and was awarded the Order of Merit from Germany for his contribution to relations between the two nations. He also chairs several subsidiaries in the DIMO group and was the Vice President of the Sri Lanka-Germany Business Council. Additionally, he is a member of the Association of German Engineers, which is said to be the largest engineering association in Western Europe.

 

 

 

 

Ashok Pathirage

Ashok Pathirage is among the local business personalities who have set the bar for Sri Lanka’s corporate vision, managing more than 50 companies. As the Managing Director and Chairman of Softlogic Holdings, he sets the strategic direction for companies across six industries – viz. retail, healthcare, financial services, IT, leisure and automobiles – which collectively employ over 11,000 people. He is also the Chairman of SriLankan Airlines. Thanks to his efforts, several global brands have been established in the country to fulfil local buyers’ quest for diverse products.

 

 

 

Dhammika Perera

Dhammika Perera holds various accolades for being a highly successful business magnate, philanthropist and one of the richest entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. The Chairman and Managing Director of Vallibel One, he is also famed for his corporate re-engineering expertise. Having begun his large-scale business practices in 1992 with Royal Ceramics Lanka, he is credited with turning around Pan Asia Bank’s fate after taking over in 2002 when the bank faced monumental challenges.

 

 

 

 

Sumal Perera

Sumal Perera is the Founder and Chairman of Access Group of Companies including the Access Engineering group. He continues to chair all the companies under the umbrella of both groups as well as Sathosa Motors. Under his leadership, these companies have been transformed into a diversified corporate giant within the span of a few decades. Perera is also a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

 

 

 

 

Aban Pestonjee

Aban Pestonjee will always be cited as a resourceful and self-taught entrepreneur, which is not only reflected in her leadership role as the Founder of the Abans group of companies but also the awards she has been bestowed with throughout an illustrious career. This includes the Leading Women Entrepreneur of the World award in 2006 and the Award of Excellence for Woman Achievers for Outstanding Achievement from the SAARC Women’s Association in 2000.

 

 

 

 

Brahamanage Premalal

Brahamanage Premalal is the Chairman of Prime Group – the brainchild he brought to life more than a quarter-century ago. An industry veteran and a recipient of the Most Outstanding Entrepreneur in Sri Lanka award from Lions Club International, he is a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Chartered Association of Business Administrators (Canada) and Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM). He also possesses an MBA from Open University Malaysia.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kulatunga Rajapaksa

The Emeritus Chairman of the DSI Samson Group, Dr. Kulatunga Rajapaksa was conferred the honorary title Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Doctorate of Letters by the University of Westminster in recognition of his contribution to Sri Lanka’s business community. Additionally, he is a past President of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE), Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products (SLAMERP) and Sri Lanka Footwear Association & Leather Products Manufacturers Association.

 

 

 

 

Sujeewa Rajapakse

Sujeewa Rajapakse is the Chairman of People’s Bank and a Non-Independent Non-Executive Chairman of People’s Leasing & Finance. Holding an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), he is also a Council Member of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), Rajapakse is the Managing Partner of BDO Partners and serves on the board of many other companies. Furthermore, he has been the Treasurer of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

 

 

 

Kanchana Ratwatte

The Chairman of Bank of Ceylon, Kanchana Ratwatte has undertaken civil and criminal cases for corporate and private clients throughout his legal career, while his work in public sector organisations gained him a wealth of experience in administration and commerce. Over the years, he has served as the Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and Ceylon Shipping Corporation among others.

 

 

 

Rajkumar Renganathan

A chartered accountant by profession, Rajkumar Renganathan holds the position of Executive Chairman of Ceylinco Life Insurance, having joined the Ceylinco group in 1983. He serves on the boards of several of the group’s subsidiaries and is known for his role in steering the company towards market leadership. Renganathan is a fellow member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA) and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), and was an Executive Board Member of LIMRA India/Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

Sivakrishnarajah Renganathan

Having dedicated his career to Commercial Bank of Ceylon, Sivakrishnarajah Renganathan has served in several key positions over his nearly 40 years at the bank. At present, he is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He is a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) and Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL), and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

 

 

 

Hari Selvanathan

Hari Selvanathan is the Chairman of Bukit Darah and Deputy Chairman of Carson Cumberbatch while holding directorships in many subsidiaries within the Carsons group. He boasts over 20 years’ experience in commodity trading in international markets and according to Forbes Asia, is one of the four wealthiest Sri Lankans in the country. He is a past President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCSL) and Vice Chairperson of the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICC Sri Lanka).

 

 

 

Deshamanya Mano Selvanathan

Deshamanya Mano Selvanathan is among four Sri Lankans cited as being the wealthiest individuals in the country by Forbes Asia. He is a Director of the Carson Cumberbatch group spanning across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. In addition, he has held the position of Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Indo-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ISCCI), and is presently the Honorary Consul of Chile in Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

Sheamalee Wickramasingha

Sheamalee Wickramasingha worked her way up the corporate ladder at Ceylon Biscuits since her appointment as a food technologist in 1991 to be appointed Group Managing Director and now serves on several company boards. She holds a Master of Science degree in Food Chemistry from Purdue University. Furthermore, Wickramasingha is the Founder and Managing Director of Modern Pack Lanka and was a member of the Monetary Policy Consultative Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya

The Chief Executive Officer – Telecommunications Business and Group Executive Vice President of the Axiata Group, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya was conferred the Sri Lankan Of The Year title by LMD in 2008 and an award for Outstanding Contribution to Asian Mobile Industry from the GSM Association. He possesses an electric and electronic engineering degree from the University of Cambridge, an MBA from the University of Warwick and a PhD in Digital Mobile Communications from the University of Bristol.

 

 

 

Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson

As the Group CEO of Hemas Holdings, Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson became the first female Group CEO of a public limited company in Sri Lanka. She boasts more than three decades of managerial experience in multiple sectors spanning auditing, consulting, transportation and logistics, and travel and leisure. A fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and an alumna of the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School, she is also a former sportswoman.

 

 

 

Dr. Sena Yaddehige

He is the Chairman, Managing Director and CEO of the Richard Pieris Group, which manages more than 50 companies. A Sri Lanka-born British scientist, engineer and high energy radiation specialist with numerous patents worldwide for inventions in radiation processing under his belt, Dr. Sena Yaddehige is also the Founder, Chairman and a Director of several companies in and beyond Sri Lanka. In recognition of his original research in multiple areas including radiation, Yaddehige was awarded a Doctor of Science.

 

 

 

Hanif Yusoof

Hanif Yusoof is a founding member, the Group CEO and an Executive Director of Expolanka Holdings, and Founder and President of EFL while also serving on several company boards. He holds a degree from Stanford University and is an associate member of the CFA Institute. In addition, Yusoof is a past President of the Sri Lanka Logistics & Freight Forwarders Association (SLFFA). His contributions earned him an Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Special Achievement Award from Enterprise Asia in 2013.