THE A LIST

CAPTAINS OF BUSINESS IN 2020

LMD pays tribute to 100 Sri Lankan businesspeople who continue to drive the nation’s engine of growth

Coming on the back of a year that witnessed a national tragedy on Easter Sunday, 2020 proved to be even worse with multiple waves of COVID-19 bringing many industries and sectors to a virtual standstill. As such, there was little respite for the nation’s engine of growth.
Several corporates grappled with the arduous task of downsizing their organisations in the wake of the fallout from the shutdowns while many others were compelled to work on contingency plans to counter the impact of the pandemic and move forward amid a highly fluid outlook as the months passed by.

Nevertheless, many of the men and women at the helm of corporate establishments demonstrated immense grit to overcome adversity yet again.

HALL OF FAME This New Year edition of LMD pays tribute to the nation’s corporate front-runners in 2020. 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 2020 hall of fame, LMD showcases 100 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 Sri Lanka’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).

Indeed, 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 2020 lineup is led by representatives of Sri Lanka’s diversified companies, which are followed by the banking sector. Meanwhile, tea, apparel, construction and engineering, and financial services also feature prominently, alongside domains such as ICT, gems and jewellery, motor, retail and telecommunications.

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

Reflecting the diversity of the private sector, the 2020 A Listers span at least two generations; and on the gender front, only seven out of the 100 strong list are women. Sri Lanka’s ‘Business Hall of Fame’ is also graced by many of those who share ‘family ties’ with one another.

– LMD

Tyeab Akbarally possesses considerable experience in the import and export sectors, and has served as a senior Director of Akbar Brothers and its subsidiaries over the past 35 years.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Amãna Takaful (Maldives)
Trustee of Amãna Bank Orphan Care Trust
Past Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA)
Past Chairman of the Spice and Allied Products Traders’ Association (SAPTA)
Former Deputy Chairman of Amãna Bank
Former Director of the Sri Lanka Tea Board

Jonathan Alles  counts 30 years in the banking sector, having served HSBC – Sri Lanka and currently the Managing Director of Hatton National Bank.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Associate member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL)
Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Lanka Financial Services Bureau, Lanka Ventures, LVL Energy Fund and HNB Grameen Finance
Director of Acuity Partners
Elected Chairman of the AsianBankers Association (ABA)
Former member of the Advisory Committee of Sri Lanka Business & Biodiversity Platform

Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean is a cofounder and the Chairman of MAS Holdings, and an engineer and industrialist with a reputation for being an exemplary visionary.

HIGHLIGHTS

Conferred an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) by the Open University of Sri Lanka in recognition of his contribution to the country in 2011
Conferred the Humanitarian Award at the FEMMY Awards in 2019
Received the CNBC-IIFA Global Leadership award
One of five global business leaders recognised with a UN Award at the WEP’s (Women’s Empowerment Principles) inaugural Leadership Awards presentation where he received the award for Cultural Change for Empowerment

Harsha Amarasekera possesses a gamut of expertise – including commercial, business, securities, banking and intellectual property law – and has been the Chairman of CIC Holdings since 2014.

HIGHLIGHTS

President’s Counsel
Chairman of CIC Agri Businesses, Swisstek (Ceylon) and Swisstek Aluminium
Independent Director of several companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) including Chevron Lubricants Lanka, Vallibel One, Royal Ceramics Lanka, Expolanka Holdings, Ambeon Capital, Amaya Leisure and Vallibel Power Erathna

J.J. Ambani is the Chairman of Metropolitan Holdings and its subsidiaries, leading the group through its diversification into various segments such as plantations, IT and engineering services.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka)

HIGHLIGHTS

Former Director of Bogala Graphite Lanka

Kapila Ariyaratne lays claim to more than 30 years of banking experience, having held positions in international banks locally and overseas, as well as in local state and private sector banks.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Seylan Developments
Director and Chief Executive Officer of Seylan Bank
Director of Lanka Financial Services Bureau and the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL)
Trustee of the Seylan Bank Employees’ Gratuity Trust Fund and Seylan Bank Employees’ Provident Fund

Krishan Balendra leads Sri Lanka’s ‘Most Respected’ company, having taken the reins of John Keells Holdings in January 2019.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Ceylon Cold Stores, Union Assurance, Asian Hotels & Properties, John Keells Hotels, Keells Food Products and Tea Smallholder Factories
Director of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Co-Chair of the National Agenda Committee on Finance and Capital of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Sri Lanka

Akram Cassim represents the third generation of leadership of Colombo Jewellery Stores (CJS), transforming it into a designer jewellery brand offering an array of international luxury watches.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Supported and sponsored ‘Sri Lankan Elephant 2016’ – a trilingual awareness and education programme organised by the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO)
Vice Chairman – Jewellery Segment of the Executive Committee 2018/19 of the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association (SLGJA)

Gihan Cooray counts experience in corporate finance, corporate treasury and investor relations, and serves as the Deputy Chairman and Group Finance Director of John Keells Holdings, and Chairman of Nations Trust Bank.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants – Australia (ICMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Committee member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Member of the Economic Policy steering committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

Hiran Cooray currently chairs Jetwing Symphony with a lengthy track record in the hotel sector, as well as 50 directorships in hotels and related companies.

HIGHLIGHTS

Former Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the PATA Sri Lanka Chapter
Former Alternate Member of the UNWTO – World Committee on Tourism Ethics
Former President of the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL)
Former Board Member of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Small Luxury Hotels
Former Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)

Shiromal Cooray hails from a finance and management background, and is a highly regarded hospitality sector professional, serving as the Chairperson and Managing Director of Jetwing Travels.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairperson of Jetwing Hotels
Co-Chair of the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance
Director of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Former President of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO)

Rohan De Silva is the Chairman and Managing Director of McLarens Holdings, serving on the boards of various subsidiaries.

HIGHLIGHTS

Member of the Ceylon Association of Ships Agents Advisory Committee and Advisory Council on Ports, Shipping and Maritime Affairsof the Ministry of Ports & Shipping
Former President of Asian Motor Racing Club
Former member of the Governing Body of Motor Racing in Sri Lanka
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Namibia in Sri Lanka

Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa has been recognised for his impact on various sectors and boasts an honorary doctorate from Swinburne University of Technology.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (CPM)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman and CEO of Nawaloka Hospitals
Chairman of Nawaloka Aviation, Nawaloka Polysacks Sharjah, Sasiri Polysacks, Nawaloka Construction Company, Nawaloka Petroleum, Koala, New Ashford International, Nawaloka Medical Centre, Nawaloka Green Cross Laboratories, Nawaloka Engineering, Nawaloka Agri, Ceyoka, Nawaloka College of Higher Studies, East West Marketing, Nawaloka Steel Industries, Alcobronze and JDC Graphic Systems
Chairman of the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka
Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)
Former President of SLC and the Asian Cricket Council
Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Singapore in Sri Lanka

Upali Dharmadasa is an industrialist who has been credited with making a mark in Sri Lanka’s business community through his three decades of corporate management experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

Managing Director of the Nawaloka group of companies, which comprises Nawaloka Piling, Nawaloka Timber Stores, Nawaloka Polysacks, Nawaloka Industries, New Nawaloka Trading and Nawaloka Developments
Past President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)
Former Chairman of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC)

Dharma Dheerasinghe is an eminent economist with a career spanning more than four decades including stints at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and IMF.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Honorary fellow member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL)
Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Commercial Bank of Ceylon, Serendib Finance and CBC Myanmar Microfinance Company
Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Has published widely and presented papers on many aspects of economics including debt capital markets and financial globalisation in Sri Lanka and overseas

Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake is widely regarded as an expert in shipping and logistics – he is currently the Managing Director of Aitken Spence and Chairman of Elpitiya Plantations.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Business Alumni of the University of Oxford – UK
Fellow member of the Harvard Business School (EEP)

HIGHLIGHTS

Former President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers – UK (ICS)
Former Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport – Sri Lanka (CILT)
Former Director of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and Ceylon Shipping Corporation
Served on the UN/UNCTAD Panel as an expert on ports and shipping
Honorary Consul General of Fiji Islands

Jegan Durairatnam is the Chairman of DFCC Bank and counts more than 35 years serving Sri Lanka’s banking sector, with experience covering international trade, offshore banking, credit and operations.

HIGHLIGHTS

Managing Director of Commercial Development Company
Director of Asian Hotels & Properties, Ceylinco Life Insurance and Assetline Leasing
Named an Outstanding Leader in Asia at the 2018 Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards

Abbas Esufally lays claim to over 35 years’ experience in tourism, playing an active role in the industry’s development in the country as well as the Hemas group’s leisure interests.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka)

HIGHLIGHTS

Justice of Peace
Group Director of Hemas Holdings, and Chairman of Dolphin Hotels, Hotel Sigiriya, Serendib Hotels, Mahaweli Reach Hotels, Printcare and Diethelm Travel Sri Lanka
Chairman of the Mercantile Service Provident Society of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

Member of the Advisory Committee of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL)

Honorary Consul for Bhutan in Sri Lanka

Husein Esufally possesses more than 30 years of management experience, serving as the Chairman of Hemas Holdings while chairing the boards of many of its subsidiaries.

HIGHLIGHTS

Director of Hemas Manufacturing, Hemas Consumer Brands, Hemas Consumer Products, Morison, Atlas Axillia, Leisure Asia Investments and Forbes Air Services
Founder of the Association for Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injuries
Co-Chair of the National Agenda Committee on Trade of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Board Member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

Dilhan C. Fernando manages the tea operations of the MJF Group with a focus on helping the family business preserve its legacy while embracing the 21^st century.

HIGHLIGHTS

CEO of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company
Chairman of UN Global Compact Network in Sri Lanka and Biodiversity Sri Lanka
Director of the Dilmah School of Tea and Dilmah Conservation
Advisory Board Member of Feed the Planet

Kimarli Fernando is a lawyer turned banker and corporate professional, who has served on the boards of several banking and finance entities, as well as conglomerates.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL)
Member of Colombo Law Society

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB)
Director of Delmege Forsyth
Former Chairperson of LB Finance
Former Director of National Development Bank

Kumudika Fernando plays a crucial role as the Managing Director of Maliban, leading it through innovation and product development – she was instrumental in implementing an ERP system to integrate the functions of the business.

HIGHLIGHTS

Named Business Role Model of the Year at the Professional and Career Women Awards in 2016 in recognition of her contribution to the national and regional economy

Malik J. Fernando refers to himself as an ‘accidental hotelier,’ having served Sri Lanka’s tea industry for more than three decades in addition to his role as Managing Director of Resplendent Ceylon.

HIGHLIGHTS

CEO of MJF Leisure
Director of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, Talawakelle Tea Estates, SriLankan Airlines and SriLankan Catering
Founder member and Co-Chair of the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance

Deshamanya Merrill J. Fernando is an iconic businessman, considered to be instrumental in relaunching Ceylon Tea globally with his name being etched in Sri Lanka’s corporate history.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder and Chairman of MJF Group
Founder of MJF Charitable Foundation
Recipient of LMD’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011
Conferred the Award for Responsible Capitalism by FIRST in 2016
Received the Lifetime Service Award at the National Tea Awards in 2017 for his service to the industry
Honoured by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018

Nanda Fernando is the Managing Director of Sampath Bank with over 35 years’ experience in banking and finance, having played multiple roles in the sector including transactional banking in the retail and corporate spheres.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Senior fellow member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL)

HIGHLIGHTS

Director of IBSL, Lanka Financial Services Bureau and LankaBangla Finance (Bangladesh)
Served at Hatton National Bank

Rohan Fernando is a veteran tea exporter with some 40 years of industry experience, and a track record of developing, promoting and marketing the beverage in innovative variants over the years.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom, HVA Group, Mobitel, eChannelling, SLT Digital Info Services, SLT VisionCom, SLT Human Capital Solutions, Sky Network, SLT Property Management and Sri Lanka Technological Campus
Senior Member of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC)
Former Chairman of the Tea Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (TEA)
Former President of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE)
Former Director of the Sri Lanka Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) and Sri Lanka Tea Board

Suren Fernando was appointed CEO of MAS Holdings in January 2020, evolving from his role as Chief Transformation Officer following nearly two decades of service with the apparel giant.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CIMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Received the Silver award for CIMA Business Manager of the Year in 2004
Conferred the Gold Award for Chief Financial Officer of the Year at the CIMA Janashakthi Pinnacle Awards in 2007

Dasantha Fonseka counts 30 years’ experience in optometry and vision science, establishing Vision Care Optical Services in a bid to elevate Sri Lanka’s eyecare sector in line with global standards.

HIGHLIGHTS

Former Deputy Chairman of the Colombo School of Business and Management (CSBM)
Recognised in the ‘Outstanding Category’ at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards 2013

Sanjeev Gardiner counts over 25 years of management experience across various sectors, and is the Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Galle Face Hotel Group.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Ceylon Hotel Holdings, Ambeon Capital and United Hotels, and Co-Chairman of Suisse Hotels Kandy
Council Member of the governing body of HelpAge Sri Lanka
Trustee of the Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Trust
Named Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012 by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)

Rajaseelan Gnanam has been at the helm of more than 10 companies, and possesses over 30 years of experience in business management, strategic planning, and social and economic research.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Orion City, South Asian Investment, St. Anthony’s Hardware and Capital City Holdings
Managing Director of Tokyo Cement, St. Anthony’s Consolidated, St. Anthony’s Hydro Power and Sofia Hospitality among others

Vish Govindasamy has driven Sunshine Holdings’ diversification across several sectors, leading to recognition of his business acumen locally and abroad – including an invitation to sit on several committees in the House of TATA.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Certified Professional Managers of Sri Lanka (CPM Sri Lanka)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Sunshine Healthcare Lanka, Sunshine Energy, Watawala Tea Ceylon, Healthguard Pharmacy and TATA Communications Lanka
Director of Watawala Plantations, Watawala Dairy, Softlogic Life Insurance, Sunshine Wilmar, Waltrim Energy, Sky Solar and Taj Lanka Hotels
Chairman of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC)
Vice Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Member of the Governing Council of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID)

Ajith Gunawardena has helped transform Sri Lanka’s insurance landscape by introducing the concept of a sales force as well as on the spot settlement of claims.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Honorary fellow member of the ICBT Campus
Associate member of the College of Cardiff Metropolitan University – UK

HIGHLIGHTS

Executive Chairman and CEO of Ceylinco Insurance

Aelian Gunawardene counts over two decades of experience in marketing and management, driving JAT Holdings’ growth across several key sectors and regional markets as its Managing Director.

ENGAGEMENTS

Conferred the Platinum Award at the 22^nd Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) in 2017

Ajit Gunewardene helms Bluestone Capital and Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka, and has provided leadership to leading private sector organisations while serving as an adviser to various government entities.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of the Founding Committee of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka
Former Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and Nations Trust Bank
Former President of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts
Former Deputy Chairman of John Keells Holdings
Former Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB)

Fouzul Hameed is a recognised figure in the fashion industry who took the reins of Hameedia in 1983, developing it into a homegrown international brand while taking Sri Lankan menswear to new heights.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder of the MyFriend Foundation
Conferred the Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2014

Anura Hemachandra has served the gems and jewellery sector for more than four decades, joining the family business in 1978 and helping it gain a reputation for quality, creativity and innovation under his leadership.

HIGHLIGHTS

Managing Director of Vogue Jewellers

Asoka Hettigoda has been recognised for his contribution to the Ayurveda sector while serving as the Managing Director of Hettigoda Group of Companies.

HIGHLIGHTS

Recipient of the Ayurveda Ratna award from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Indian Traditional Sciences of the House of Commons in the UK in 2019 in recognition of his efforts to expand the Ayurveda segment
Former President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL)

Mahesh Hirdaramani is the Chairman of the Hirdaramani Group, which is a US$ 750 million multi-country apparel manufacturer with 35 facilities across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

HIGHLIGHTS

Deputy Chairman of the Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAFSL)
Council Member of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), representing the Manufacturing – Garments and Textiles segment

Deshamanya Harry Jayawardena – the Chairman and Managing Director of Stassen Group – is believed to be among the wealthiest corporate personalities in Sri Lanka with several ventures in diversified fields.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Aitken Spence, Lanka Milk Foods, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka, Browns Beach Hotels, Balangoda Plantations, Lanka Bell, Melstacorp, Milford Exports (Ceylon), Ambewela Livestock Company, Ambewela Products, Lanka Dairies, Periceyl, Texpro Industries and Ceylon Garden Coir
Former Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and SriLankan Airlines
Honorary Consul for Denmark in Sri Lanka

Kapila Jayawardena possesses experience ranging from investment banking and banking operations, to audit, relationship management and treasury management – he currently serves as the Group Managing Director and CEO of LOLC Holdings.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL)
Associate member of the Institute of Cost and Executive Accountants – UK

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Eden Hotel Lanka, LOLC General Insurance, LOLC Securities and Palm Garden Hotels
Former Country Head and CEO of Citibank – Sri Lanka and Maldives
Former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA)
Former President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AMCHAM)

Dilith Jayaweera is a well-known Sri Lankan entrepreneur with more than 25 years’ experience in media and advertising, setting up Triad in 1993 while studying law at the University of Colombo.

HIGHLIGHTS

Group Chairman of George Steuart
Chairman of Power House, Derana Macro Entertainment and Citrus Leisure
Joint Managing Director of Triad
Director of Colombo Land & Development

Manil Jayesinghe is a prominent figure in Sri Lanka’s accountancy fraternity, boasting more than 35 years of experience and contributions to the profession at the regional, local and international levels.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka)
Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Head of Assurance and Senior Partner of Ernst & Young
President of CA Sri Lanka
Member of the Governing Council of CMA Sri Lanka
Former member of the board of CIMA Sri Lanka
Past Council Member of the University of Moratuwa

Osman Kassim is an entrepreneur with more than 40 years’ senior management experience, and renowned for his expertise in Islamic banking and insurance.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder Chairman of the Expolanka group
Chairman of Amãna Takaful and Vidullanka
Founder Director of Amãna Takaful Maldives and the Maldives Islamic Bank
Director of CrescentRating – Singapore
Holds an honorary doctorate from the Staffordshire University in recognition of achievements as a global entrepreneur and educationalist

Deshabandu M. G. Kularatne is a veteran businessman who has been recognised for his entrepreneurship and leadership, which has contributed to the development of Sri Lanka’s construction industry.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (CPM)
Fellow member of the Chartered Association of Business Administrators (CABA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Maga Engineering
Former Chairman of the Major & Specialist Constructors of Sri Lanka (M&SC)

Mizver Makeen is a second generation leader of the Macksons group – under his leadership, the heritage brand’s presence has continued to expand in the retail, manufacturing, hospitality, engineering, energy, motor and property development sectors.

HIGHLIGHTS

Managing Director of Macksons Holdings

Reyaz Mihular is the Managing Partner of KPMG Sri Lanka and the first Sri Lankan professional to be appointed to a leadership position in a global capacity within the ‘Big Four’ audit firms in the country.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka)
Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of KPMG’s Middle East & South Asia (MESA) Regional Cluster
Head of IFRS for the KPMG MESA region
Member of KPMG’s MESA Advisory Steering Group
Former President of CA Sri Lanka and Chairman of CIMA – Sri Lanka Division

Ishara Nanayakkara is a prominent entrepreneur serving on the boards of many corporates and conglomerates in the region – he is currently the Deputy Chairman of LOLC Holdings.

HIGHLIGHTS

Executive Chairman of Browns Group and holds directorships in many of its subsidiaries and associate companies
Chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC)
Conferred the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA) in 2012

Ashroff Omar is renowned for being a highly regarded industrialist and has been instrumental in redefining Sri Lanka’s apparel industry over four decades.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Chartered member of the Textile Institute International – UK
Senior member of the Society of Plastics Engineers – USA (SPE)

HIGHLIGHTS

Group Chief Executive Officer of Brandix Lanka
Founder member of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF)
Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Garments – Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB)
Director of SriLankan Airlines and SriLankan Catering
Honorary Consul General of Finland

Ranjit Page boasts more than 35 years’ management experience and is credited with playing a pivotal role in Cargills’ and CT Holdings’ foray into financial services.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Cargills Bank
Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of CT Holdings
Deputy Chairman and CEO of Cargills (Ceylon)

Mohan Pandithage is the Chairman and CEO of Hayleys – which accounts for a notable share of Sri Lanka’s export income – and a director of several of the group’s affiliated listed companies.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport – UK (CILT)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Singer (Sri Lanka), Unisyst Engineering, Alumex, Amaya Leisure, Dipped Products, Haycarb, Hayleys Fabric, Hayleys Fibre, Kelani Valley Plantations, Regnis (Lanka), Singer Industries (Ceylon), Talawakelle Tea Estates, The Kingsbury and Horana Plantations
Co-Chairman of DPL Plantations
Honorary Consul of Mexico in Sri Lanka

Ranjith Pandithage  counts over 45 years in the motor industry, and was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in recognition of his contribution to German-Sri Lanka relations.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Institute of Engineers – Germany (VDI)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman and Managing Director of Diesel & Motor Engineering
Director of Dial Textiles
Vice President of Sri Lanka-Germany Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

Ashok Pathirage is recognised as a visionary leader in Sri Lanka’s corporate world, managing over 50 companies and providing employment to nearly 10,000 employees.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Softlogic Holdings
Chairman of SriLankan Airlines and SriLankan Catering

Deshabandu Anselm Perera is a veteran of the tea industry and the Managing Director of Mlesna, which he founded in 1983.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Euro Scan Exports
Former Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA)

Dhammika Perera is among Sri Lanka’s wealthiest individuals with over 30 years’ experience in building formidable businesses spanning across public quoted and private companies.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman and Managing Director of Vallibel One

Sandamini Perera is the cofounder and Deputy Chairperson of Prime Lands Group, and counts over 25 years’ experience in the real estate sector.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM)

HIGHLIGHTS

Conferred the Honored Leaders Excellence Award for excellence in women’s empowerment by the World Consulting and Research Corporation in New Delhi in 2014
Won the Best Woman Entrepreneur award (Large Category) by Women in Management in Sri Lanka (WIM) in 2019

Sumal Perera is the Founder Chairman of the Access group of companies, which was established in 1989.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman and CEO of Access Engineering
Chairs all companies under the Access group and Sathosa Motors umbrella

Aban Pestonjee continues to set benchmarks for budding entrepreneurs as the Founder and Chairperson of Abans.

HIGHLIGHTS

Bestowed the Award of Excellence for Woman Achievers for Outstanding Achievement by the SAARC Women’s Association in 2000
Received the KOTRA Plaque Appreciation for forging strategic foreign economic ties between South Korea and Sri Lanka in 2005
Received the Leading Women Entrepreneur of the World award in 2006
Conferred LMD’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 by Media Services

David Pieris’ leadership saw the group expanding to 14 entities, which has directly and indirectly provided employment to over 700,000 people and 2.4 million dependents.

HIGHLIGHTS

Executive Chairman of David Pieris Motor Company

Murali Prakash counts over 35 years’ experience in key management positions, and has worked in multiple industries, from energy to trading, manufacturing, technology and financial services.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Management Institute – UK (CMI)
Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka (CPM)

HIGHLIGHTS

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ambeon Holdings and Ambeon Capital
Chairman of Ashnip Global

Brahamanage Premalal has served Sri Lanka’s real estate sector for over two decades, is a prominent figure in the Sri Lankan business landscape, and the cofounder and Chairman of Prime Group.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM)
Chartered Business Administrator (Canada)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Prime Lands Group
Conferred the UCD Entrepreneur of the Year in recognition of his experience in the real estate sector in 2011
Won the Best Developer award from Property Guru at the Asia Property Awards

Rajendram Rajamahendran helms the Capital Maharaja Organisation and has forged successful ventures with a number of international companies.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of the Capital Maharaja Organisation

Kulatunga Rajapaksa boasts over 50 years’ experience in the manufacture of footwear and rubber products.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of the Wellassa Rubber Company
Director of the Mawbima Lanka Foundation
Director of Wellassa Rubber Company
Emeritus Chairman of DSI Samson Group
Former President of the Sri Lanka Footwear & Leather Products Manufacturers Association
Former President of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE)
Winner of the Sri Lanka Entrepreneur of the Year (Hall of Fame) Award from the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka in 2017 (FCCISL)

Sujeewa Rajapakse holds the post of Chairman of People’s Bank and Chairman of People’s Leasing & Finance, as well as Managing Partner of BDO Partners.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka)
Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID)

HIGHLIGHTS

Member of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board
Council Member of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Damitha Ramanayake boasts over 40 years’ experience and has guided the Damro group to reach the upper echelons of Sri Lanka’s private sector.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder and Group Chairman of Damro

K. R. Ravindran is the Cofounder, CEO and Managing Director of Printcare, and was conferred an Honorary Doctorate from Korea University.

HIGHLIGHTS

Former President, Director and Treasurer of Rotary International
Former Trustee of The Rotary Foundation
Founding President of the Sri Lanka Anti-Narcotics Association

Rajkumar Renganathan counts more than 35 years serving in Sri Lanka’s insurance sector and helms Ceylinco Life Insurance.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka)
Fellow member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants – Sri Lanka (CMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Executive Chairman of Ceylinco Life Insurance

Sivakrishnarajah Renganathan is a senior banker counting over 38 years in the sector – he has served Commercial Bank of Ceylon throughout his career.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Fellow member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL)
Fellow member of the IFS School of Finance
Associate member of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA)
Member of Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID)

HIGHLIGHTS

Managing Director of Commercial Bank of Ceylon

Rizvan Sahabdeen represents a classic jeweller who has seen some of the most prominent global brands choosing Sifani as their preferred jeweller.

HIGHLIGHTS

Managing Director of Sifani Jewellers
Former Membership Chairman of Rotary Colombo East

Prakash Schaffter has been a key member of Janashakthi Insurance’s management team since the inception of the company in 1994 with three decades’ experience in the insurance sector.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

HIGHLIGHTS

Executive Chairman of Janashakthi Insurance
Former President of the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL)
Former President of the Young Presidents’ Organization

Mano Sekaram counts more than 25 years’ global experience in IT and software management – and is a regular representative of Sri Lanka’s IT-BPM industry.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder and CEO of 99x
Founder of StartupX Foundry
Chairman of Lanka Angel Network (LAN)
Board member of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA)
Former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM)
Conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Best Quality Software Awards (NBQSA) by the Chartered Institute for IT in 2014

Dr. Sivakumar Selliah holds over two decades’ experience in diverse fields including manufacturing, healthcare, plantations, logistics, packaging, retail and insurance.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Cleanco Lanka
Chairman of Vydexa Lanka Power Corporation
Deputy Chairman of Asiri Hospital Holdings
Deputy Chairman of Asiri Surgical Hospital
Deputy Chairman of Asiri Central Hospital

Hari Selvanathan counts over 20 years’ experience in commodity trading in international markets and has been listed among the four wealthiest individuals in Sri Lanka by Forbes Asia.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Bukit Darah
Chairman of Good Hope
Chairman of Indo-Malay
Chairman of Selinsing
Chairman of Shalimar (Malay)
Deputy Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Goodhope Asia Holdings
President Commissioner of the palm oil companies in Indonesia
Vice Chairperson of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
Former President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL)

Deshamanya Mano Selvanathan has served as Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and also the Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Ceylon Finance & Securities
Chairman of Selinsing
Former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Former Chairman of the Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ISCCI)
Former President of the Rotary Club of Colombo North
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Chile in Sri Lanka
Recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from the President of India for fostering India-Sri Lanka relations
Conferred the presidential honour of Order of Knight Commander by the Government of Chile in 2013

Arthur Senanayake – the Founder and Chairman of IWS Holdings and its group of companies – has been at the forefront of business circles in Sri Lanka for the past three decades.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder Chairman of Trident Shipping Line Lanka
Chairman of Siyapatha Finance
Chairman of Sampath Centre
Justice of Peace
Honorary Trade Representative to the Government of Singaporein Sri Lanka
Founder Director and former Chairman of Sampath Bank

Dimantha Seneviratne counts more than 26 years in the banking sector under his belt and is the Group Chief Executive Officer of National Development Bank (NDB).

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL)

HIGHLIGHTS

Director of the Credit Information Bureau – Sri Lanka
Former President of the Association of Professional Bankers – Sri Lanka (APB)
Former Director and CEO of Pan Asia Bank

Suresh Shah is a Director and the CEO of Lion Brewery Ceylon a homegrown entity with a product conceptualised on traditional recipes and techniques since 1860.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka)

HIGHLIGHTS

Former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Former Chairman of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC)
Former Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC)
Former Member of the Monetary Policy Consultative Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Lakshman Silva joined the DFCC Banking Group in 1987 – over the last three decades, he has gained extensive expertise in financial services and banking.

HIGHLIGHTS

Director and Chief Executive Officer of DFCC Bank
Director of Lanka Financial Services Bureau (LFSB)
Director of the Sri Lankan Bankers’ Association (SLBA)
Former President of the Association of Professional Bankers of Sri Lanka (APBSL)

Prabhash Subasinghe is the Founder and Managing Director of Global Rubber Industries, as well as the Managing Director of Global Sea Foods.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Sri Lanka Society of Rubber Industry

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products (SLAMERP)
Managing Director of Ayenka Holdings
Co-Chair of the National Agenda Committee on Export Development
Former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB)
Former President of Seafood Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (SEASL)

Ganeswaran Subramaniam is the Chief Executive Officer of Allianz Insurance Lanka, overseeing the growth strategy of the business with overall management responsibility for operations in Sri Lanka.

HIGHLIGHTS

Director of AIG Travel Asia Pacific and AIG Insurance (Thailand)

Priyantha Talwatte has been an integral part of the Nations Trust Bank’s Corporate Management team for over 17 years and was appointed to helm the bank in April 2020.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chief Executive Officer of Nations Trust Bank

Bingumal Thewarathanthri counts over 25 years of experience in banking and finance, and is the first Sri Lankan national to be appointed to this position at Standard Chartered Bank.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chief Executive Officer and Head of Global Banking of Standard Chartered Bank

Ajith Tudawe lays claim to extensive experience in accounting and finance, and entrepreneurial skills.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CA ANZ)
Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka)
Fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – UK (ACCA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Group Director of Tudawe Brothers and Chairman of Ceylon Hospitals

Sanath Ukwatte helms the Mount Lavinia Hotel Group, and is actively involved in promoting bilateral trade to further ties between Slovenia and Sri Lanka.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman and Managing Director of Mount Lavinia Hotel
Chairman and Managing Director of Ceylon Hotels
Founder and Chairman of the International Hotel School in Mount Lavinia
President of The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL)
Former Director of SriLankan Airlines
Former Director of SriLankan Airlines Catering Services
Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia in Sri Lanka

Dinesh Weerakkody occupies the position of Chairman of Hatton National Bank.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka
Chairman of the National Human Resource Development Council of Sri Lanka and Cornucopia Sri Lanka
Former Chairman of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon and the Employees’ Trust Fund Board of Sri Lanka

Mahen Weerasekara is credited as having introduced strategic management practices to the Sanken group, which is cited as one of the major successes of the company.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Sanken Group

Supun Weerasinghe has more than 20 years’ experience in Sri Lanka’s telecommunications industry, having commenced his career in telecommunications at Dialog in 1999.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata

Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana is the Founder and CEO of WSO2 – he has been involved in the sphere of open-source software for several years.

HIGHLIGHTS

Director and Chief Scientist of Lanka Software Foundation
Founder, Chief Architect and Chairman of Lanka Software Foundation
Member of the Academic Advisory Board of the School of Computing of the University of Colombo
Member of the Faculty of IT of the University of Moratuwa

Deshabandu Hemachandra Wegapitiya is an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and self-made business leader who is recognised for transforming his company into a diversified group.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder and Group Chairman of LAUGFS Holdings
Former Chairman of the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE)
Former Senior Vice President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL)

Sanjeewa Wickramanayake is part of the leadership of the technology company Ewis Solutions.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of Ewis Solutions
Chairman and Managing Director of Toppan Forms (Colombo)

Dr. Mihira Wickramarachchi is a pioneer in the field of audiology and optometry in which he counts around 40 years’ experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder and Managing Director of J. M. Wickramarachchi
Chairman of Suwaya Villa
President of Hybrid Aviations
Director of Hybrid Airports

Sheamalee Wickramasingha joined Ceylon Biscuits in 1991 as a food technologist and worked in various capacities in the group – she was appointed to the board in 1996.

HIGHLIGHTS

Group Managing Director of Ceylon Biscuits
Member of the Monetary Policy Consultative Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Won the Best Woman CEO of the Year 2016 award for leadership and achievement in the field of business and management

Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya is a past Chairman of GSM Asia Pacific – the regional interest group of the GSM Association.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Technology – UK (IET)

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Former Chairman of GSMA Asia Pacific
Former CEO of Dialog Axiata
Named Sri Lankan Of The Year by LMD in 2008
Received the Outstanding Contribution to Asian Mobile Industry Award by GSMA Asia Pacific in 2016

Eranjith Wijenaike has more than 35 years’ experience serving Sri Lanka’s financial services industry.

HIGHLIGHTS

Managing Director and Chief Executive of Central Finance

Eraj Wijesinghe is a Director of LIC Lanka and the Chairman of the Bartleet Group of Companies, and has been associated with the plantations industry for well over four decades.

HIGHLIGHTS

Honorary Vice Consul General of the Netherlands to the Republic of Sri Lanka and Maldives between 1972 and 1990

Mahesh Wijewardene joined the board of Singer (Sri Lanka) in 2006 and is the current Group CEO of the retail giant.

HIGHLIGHTS

Past Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (Import Section)
Past Chairman of the Sri Lanka-China Business Council

Ajith Wijeyesekera is a renowned business leader with over 30 years’ experience in management.

HIGHLIGHTS

Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Union Apparels
Founder Chairman and Managing Director of NorthStar Holdings
Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Union Industrial Washing
Chairman and Managing Director of Union Resorts
Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Dilly’s Fashions

Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson counts some three decades of managerial experience in multiple sectors spanning auditing, consulting, transportation and logistics, and travel and leisure.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

HIGHLIGHTS

Group CEO of Hemas Holdings
Managing Director of Hemas Pharmaceuticals
Managing Director of Hemas Surgical and Diagnostics
President of the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI)
Member of the Economic Policy Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Former Board Member of CIMA Sri Lanka
Recognised as one of 12 Top Women Change-Makers in the Country by the Parliament of Sri Lanka and USAID in 2019
Won the Career Role Model – Woman of the Year award by Women in Management (WIM) and IFC in 2013
Received the Women Super Achiever Award from the World Women Leadership Congress Awards (India) in 2013

Dr. Sena Yaddehige is a Sri Lankan-born British scientist cum engineer and Swiss-based industrialist who holds the rights to numerous worldwide patents.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chairman and Managing Director of Richard Pieris
Chairman and CEO of a US company supplying automotive markets

Chanaka Yatawara is the Group CEO of United Motors Lanka and serves on the board of several companies.

HIGHLIGHTS

Former Director of TVS Lanka
Former Director of TVS Automotives

Hanif Yusoof established a strong brand for logistics and supply chains across the globe, and leads a team of employees across 18 countries.

HIGHLIGHTS

Former President of the Freight Forwarders Association of Sri Lanka in addition to being on the UN/ESCAP panel of trainers for freight forwarding
Recipient of the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Special Achievement Award from Enterprise Asia in 2013
Conferred an award for Global Commerce Excellence in recognition of his contribution to the Sri Lankan economy by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in 2012
Named one of the ‘Ten Outstanding Young Persons’ (TOYP) in 1998