Leadership Profile

Appointed in December 2013

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena is a graduate of St. James' & Lucie Clayton College and Keele University in the United Kingdom, the Emeritus Institute of Management in Singapore, and an Associate Alumni of the University of Cambridge (Judge Business School) in the United Kingdom.

Experience

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena marks several milestones for the Aitken Spence Group as the first female Chairperson in its 157-year history, with her appointment as Executive Chairperson in February 2025. She was also the youngest, and the first female to be appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC, Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, and Browns Beach Hotels PLC, in December 2013.

With a career spanning over 10 years at Aitken Spence, she wields a fresh perspective in management and heads strategic business units across the Group. She leads several key strategic teams as the Interim Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC, Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Pvt) Ltd., as Deputy Chairperson of Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC., and as a Member of the Board of Directors of Stassen Group, Melstacorp PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC and Elpitiya Plantations PLC.

The youngest intern to work under US Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and the Former US President Bill Clinton in 2003, Ms. Jayawardena was appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador for EY NextGen Club from 2017 to 2019. She has served as a Member of the PwC Next-and Now-Generation Advisory Council since 2020.

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena was appointed to the Executive Board of The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and has represented THASL at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Committee since 2019. She is an Executive Committee Member at the International Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, since 2020, and currently serves as Vice Chairman and a Steering Committee Member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Sector. She served as the Chairperson of the Employers' Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Hotels and Tourism Employers Group for the financial year 2020/21. She was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Colombo International Arbitration Centre, Sri Lanka in January 2025.

Ms. Jayawardena has represented the Company as the Ambassador for Aitken Spence PLC at the Target Gender Equality initiative of the UN Global Compact since 2020.

In recognition of her work and commitment to inspire, she was recognised at The Top 50 Professional & Career Women Awards in Sri Lanka with the Gold Award in the Hotel & Hospitality Sector in 2017, and, in 2020, the Sri Lankan business magazine, Echelon, listed her among the most innovative and influential young leaders to have succeeded in business and in shaping the future of Sri Lanka.

Ms. Jayawardena was the award recipient of the Expatriate Contribution Award – Gold Category – Women in Management Maldives. The Professional and Career Women Awards Maldives 2022 presented this award to Ms. Jayawardena for her exceptional contributions and achievements in the field of Hotels & Hospitality.

Ms. Jayawardena was an award recipient at the Global CEO Leadership Excellence Awards 2024 (which honoured 50 top-tier CEOs and their teams who successfully navigated challenges in turbulent times) and was again recognised for Excellence in Corporate Leadership at the Global CEO Top Businesswomen Award 2025. Ms. Jayawardena was also recognised with the ‘Trailblazing Corporate Leader’ Award at the 15th Top50 Professional and Career Women Global Awards 2025, organised by Women in Management, LMD’s Emerging Businessperson of the Year for 2025, and accepted the Award for Trailblazing Leadership and Transformational Corporate Stewardship at the CEO of the Year Awards 2025.

Appointed in April 2005

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Dr. R.M. Fernando holds a PhD and an MBA from the University of Colombo and is also a Chartered Marketer and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM UK).

Experience

Dr. Fernando joined Aitken Spence Plantation Management in May 1994 and has served as the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC and Elpitiya Plantations PLC since August 1997. He was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of both companies with effect from 1st April 2026. He has extensive experience in the plantation industry; both in the public and private sectors; corporate management, corporate strategy and has played a key role in the plantation privatisation programme. He was the Chairman of United Nations Global Compact Network, Sri Lanka, a former President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Sri Lanka Chapter and a past Chairman of the Planters Association of Ceylon.

He is currently the President of the Palm Oil Industry Association which comprises growers, processors and refiners in the palm oil industry and also serves on the committee of the Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA).

Dr. Fernando was appointed as a member of the UNICEF Sri Lanka Business Council in 2023. He was also appointed under the Co-Chairmanship of Advisor to the President and Chairman of National Science Foundation, as a Member of the Expert Cluster on ‘Perennial Crops’ to achieve food security and nutrition in the country.

Dr. Fernando was appointed to the Main Board of Aitken Spence PLC on the 1st of April 2005 and is currently Head of the Plantations segment, Corporate Strategy and Sustainability for the Aitken Spence Group.

Appointed in April 2000

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Mr. J.M.S. Brito holds a L.L.B. degree from University of London, MBA degree from London City Business School and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of both Sri Lanka and England and Wales.

Experience

Mr. J.M.S. Brito is an acclaimed senior professional in both the private and the public sector industries in Sri Lanka.

He is a former Chairman of DFCC Bank, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon and Sri Lankan Airlines.

Mr. Brito joined the Board of Aitken Spence PLC in April 2000, with a multi- discipline academic background and a wealth of experience from a career counting over 40 years that includes experience working with several international organisations. He was then appointed as the Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC, in December 2001 and Deputy Chairman in April 2003 which position he held until his retirement on 15th March 2019. After retirement, Mr. Brito continues to be a Non-Executive Director of Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC.

Appointed in September 2006

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Hon. Chevalier Thakur Niranjan Joseph de S. Deva Aditya DL FRSA, President Commonwealth Union, a global cyber community, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts FRSA established 1754, a Research Fellow of Loughbourough University of Technology, a Graduate of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and a Member Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He also holds a Bachelor of Technology (Honours) from the University of Loughborough and is a Professor at the Beijing University.

Experience

Hon. Chevalier Thakur Niranjan Joseph de S. Deva Aditya DL FRSA, President Commonwealth Union, a global cyber community, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Deputy Lieutenant for the Lord Lieutenantancy of Greater London representing HM King Charles III, Presidential Envoy of Sri Lanka to the EU and the Commonwealth of 56 Nations and Senior Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka, former Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons, and a Member of the European Parliament, joined the Board of Directors of Aitken Spence in September 2006.

He was the first Post War Asian-born Conservative Member of the British House of Commons and served in Government as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Scottish Office after which he was elected as the first Asian-born British Member of the European Parliament representing over 8 million British people in Berkshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent for 20 years.

He was the Vice President of the International Development Committee for 15 years, overseeing the annual Euro 25 billion European Budget. He was the Chairman of the EU Korean Peninsula Delegation working towards a lasting peace with North Korea, Chairman of the EU China, EU Bangladesh, EU Indonesia, EU Myanmar and EU India Friendship Groups in the EU Parliament and was nominated by his political group ECR to be the President of the European Parliament and was the Chairman of the EU Delegation to the UN General Assembly. He is now the President of the Commonwealth Union; the largest cyber community encompassing the Commonwealth.

He was the Vice President of the International Development Committee for 15 years, overseeing the annual Euro 25 billion European Budget. He was the Chairman of the EU Korean Peninsula Delegation working towards a lasting peace with North Korea, Chairman of the EU China, EU Bangladesh, EU Indonesia, EU Myanmar and EU India Friendship Groups in the EU Parliament and was nominated by his political group ECR to be the President of the European Parliament and was the Chairman of the EU Delegation to the UN General Assembly. He is now the President of the Commonwealth Union; the largest cyber community encompassing the Commonwealth.

Appointed in February 2023

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Mr. Jansz holds a Diploma in Banking and Finance from London Metropolitan University, UK. He is a Chevening Scholar and an UN-ESCAP Certified Training Manager on Maritime Transport for Shippers.

Experience

Mr. Jansz is the Chairman of Lanka Milk Foods Group, Melsta Hospitals Ragama (Pvt) Ltd and the Deputy Chairman of Melstacorp Group. He is also the Director of Stassen Group and DCSL Group.

He has been the Chairman of DFCC Bank and the Sri Lanka Shippers Council.

Mr. Jansz specialises in the movement and finance of international trade.

Appointed in December 2024

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Mr. Sevilla holds a BA Hons in Politics and History of Ideas from Kingston University, London, a Professional Certificate of Competence in Gibraltar Taxation and is an Association of Accounting Technicians qualified Accountant.

Experience

Mr. Sevilla is a Director at FORM-A-CO (GIBRALTAR) LIMITED and FORM-A-TRUST (GIBRALTAR) LIMITED. He has a background in finance and accounting and has over 20 years of experience working in different roles within finance. Under his present role he oversees all company financial activities.

He also provides a range of service to clients specifically focused on accounting services and tax work. Additionally, Mr. Sevilla is a Regulated Individual regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC).

Appointed in December 2024

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Mr. Mihular is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) – UK.

Experience

Mr. Mihular served as the Managing Partner of KPMG Sri Lanka & Maldives from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2022 and was the Chairman of KPMG’s Middle East & South Asia (MESA) Regional Cluster during the period 1st October 2018 to 30th September 2021. Mr. Mihular previously served a term as the Chief Operating Officer of the MESA regional office. He also served on KPMG’s Europe Middle East & Africa (EMA) Board and on the Global Council of KPMG International.

Mr. Mihular is a Past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. He also served as the Chairman of the CIMA Sri Lanka Board. Mr. Mihular has completed International Executive Education programmes at INSEAD, France, Harvard Business School and the London Business School, UK.

Mr. Mihular served as a Board Member of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) from 1996 to 2000. Subsequently he served on the IASC’s Standing Interpretations Committee and as a Member of the IFRS Advisory Council of the International Accounting Standards Board. He also served as a member of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) from 2012 to 2018.

Mr. Mihular presently serves as Chairman of Watawala Plantations PLC and Bairaha Farms PLC and as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Sunshine Holdings PLC, Melstacorp PLC, Balangoda Plantations PLC, Madulsima Plantations PLC, Sunshine Teas (Pvt) Ltd, Lonach Dairy (Pvt) Ltd, Agility Innovation (Pvt) Ltd, Marino Leisure Holdings Ltd and LTL Holdings Ltd. He also serves as a Member of the Stakeholder Engagement Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Appointed in December 2024

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Mr. Peter Englisch holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and multiple certifications such as Certified Public Accountant (WP), US-CPA, and Certified Family Business and Family Wealth Advisor (CFBA / CFWA)

Experience

Mr. Peter Englisch is a seasoned executive with over three decades of experience in the fields of family business advisory, assurance, and tax services. Mr. Englisch has established himself as a thought leader and trusted advisor in the industry.

Throughout his career, he has held significant leadership roles at prestigious firms like EY and PwC, where he led global initiatives and established centers of excellence for family businesses. He has also contributed to academia as an Executive in Residence at IMD Business School and founded his own consulting firm, Peter Englisch Consulting GmbH & Co. KG.

Mr. Englisch’s expertise spans across supporting family-owned businesses with succession planning, NextGen development, governance, and growth strategies. He is also well-versed in advising High Net Worth Individuals and Family Offices on long-term investment strategies, impact investing, and philanthropy.

Recognised for his contributions, Mr. Englisch has been inducted into the Family Business “Hall of Fame” and named one of the Top 10 Global Family Enterprise Advisors by Family Capital Magazine. He is a regular speaker at international conferences and has co-founded the Center for Family Business at the University of St. Gallen.

Appointed in December 2024

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Dr. Ravi Fernando is an Alumni of the University of Cambridge having completed both a Post Graduate Certificate in Sustainable business in 2008 and Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership in 2014. He has an MBA from the University of Colombo.

He holds a Doctor of Business Administration Degree from the European Business School in 2016.

Experience

He completed the Advanced Management Program at the INSEAD Business School (France) and is an Executive in Residence since 2010. He is also a member of the INSEAD Sustainability Initiative. He has served as a Member of the Board of Study at the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) since March 2023. In April 2020, he created the ‘21st Century Board Leadership Model-MasterClass’© for the Institute of Directors of Luxembourg.

In February 2023 he published ‘21st Century Leadership to Fight the Code Red for Business’ (Archway Publishing USA). His career with Multinationals spanned 1981-2007 with Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, Smithkline Beecham International covering Africa, Middle East and Asia. He was the first CEO of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology 2008-2011 and Operations Director of the Malaysia Blue Ocean Strategy Institute 2011-2016. He was the first UN Global Compact Focal point 2007 and set up the UNGC Sri Lanka Network.

He serves on the Boards of Global Strategic Corporate Sustainability Pvt. Ltd, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC, Melstacorp PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC, Madulsima Plantations PLC, Balangoda Plantations PLC, Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, Browns Beach Hotels PLC, Elpitiya Plantations PLC, UN Global Compact, Ceylon Graphene Technologies Ltd.

In 2007 “Global Strategy Leadership award” was presented to him by Professor Renee Mauborgne of INSEAD at the World Strategy summit.

Appointed in April 2025

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Mr. C.H. Gomez holds a Financial Planning Certificate from the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Experience

Mr. C.H. Gomez is a former Banker with over 40 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major financial institutions including Barclays Bank PLC, Lloyds TSB Bank PLC and SG Hambros. He brings to the Company a wealth of experience in regard to international financial markets, financial services regulations, compliance and controls and it was through his intervention that major investors were brought into Aitken Spence PLC and to other business sectors in Sri Lanka. Mr. Gomez is a Director as well as a part owner of regulated financial services companies based in Gibraltar. He also serves on the Boards of foreign companies which have investments worldwide.

Mr. Gomez was appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC, in 2002 and to the Board of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, in 2010 and resigned from his position as a Director from these companies in 2024 in compliance with the Listing Rules of the Colombo Stock Exchange.

Mr. Gomez was subsequently appointed as a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC in April 2025.

Deshamanya D.H.S. Jayawardena was appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC in April 2000. He served as Chairman of Aitken Spence PLC from April 2003 until his passing. He was a visionary leader who led many successful enterprises and served on the boards of several prominent companies in Sri Lanka. His leadership legacy continues to inspire the organization.

Throughout his illustrious career, he held chairmanships and directorships in numerous leading companies across diverse sectors including banking, finance, insurance, plantations, leisure, and manufacturing. His entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen left an indelible mark on Sri Lanka's corporate landscape.

Appointed in December 2013

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena is a graduate of St. James' & Lucie Clayton College and Keele University in the United Kingdom, the Emeritus Institute of Management in Singapore, and an Associate Alumni of the University of Cambridge (Judge Business School) in the United Kingdom.

Experience

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena marks several milestones for the Aitken Spence Group as the first female Chairperson in its 157-year history, with her appointment as Executive Chairperson in February 2025. She was also the youngest, and the first female to be appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC, Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, and Browns Beach Hotels PLC, in December 2013.

With a career spanning over 10 years at Aitken Spence, she wields a fresh perspective in management and heads strategic business units across the Group. She leads several key strategic teams as the Interim Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC, Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Pvt) Ltd., as Deputy Chairperson of Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC., and as a Member of the Board of Directors of Stassen Group, Melstacorp PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC and Elpitiya Plantations PLC.

The youngest intern to work under US Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and the Former US President Bill Clinton in 2003, Ms. Jayawardena was appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador for EY NextGen Club from 2017 to 2019. She has served as a Member of the PwC Next-and Now-Generation Advisory Council since 2020.

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena was appointed to the Executive Board of The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and has represented THASL at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Committee since 2019. She is an Executive Committee Member at the International Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, since 2020, and currently serves as Vice Chairman and a Steering Committee Member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Sector. She served as the Chairperson of the Employers' Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Hotels and Tourism Employers Group for the financial year 2020/21. She was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Colombo International Arbitration Centre, Sri Lanka in January 2025.

Ms. Jayawardena has represented the Company as the Ambassador for Aitken Spence PLC at the Target Gender Equality initiative of the UN Global Compact since 2020.

In recognition of her work and commitment to inspire, she was recognised at The Top 50 Professional & Career Women Awards in Sri Lanka with the Gold Award in the Hotel & Hospitality Sector in 2017, and, in 2020, the Sri Lankan business magazine, Echelon, listed her among the most innovative and influential young leaders to have succeeded in business and in shaping the future of Sri Lanka.

Ms. Jayawardena was the award recipient of the Expatriate Contribution Award – Gold Category – Women in Management Maldives. The Professional and Career Women Awards Maldives 2022 presented this award to Ms. Jayawardena for her exceptional contributions and achievements in the field of Hotels & Hospitality.

Ms. Jayawardena was an award recipient at the Global CEO Leadership Excellence Awards 2024 (which honoured 50 top-tier CEOs and their teams who successfully navigated challenges in turbulent times) and was again recognised for Excellence in Corporate Leadership at the Global CEO Top Businesswomen Award 2025. Ms. Jayawardena was also recognised with the ‘Trailblazing Corporate Leader’ Award at the 15th Top50 Professional and Career Women Global Awards 2025, organised by Women in Management, LMD’s Emerging Businessperson of the Year for 2025, and accepted the Award for Trailblazing Leadership and Transformational Corporate Stewardship at the CEO of the Year Awards 2025.

Appointed in April 2005

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Dr. R.M. Fernando holds a PhD and an MBA from the University of Colombo and is also a Chartered Marketer and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM UK).

Experience

Dr. Fernando joined Aitken Spence Plantation Management in May 1994 and has served as the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC and Elpitiya Plantations PLC since August 1997. He was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of both companies with effect from 1st April 2026. He has extensive experience in the plantation industry; both in the public and private sectors; corporate management, corporate strategy and has played a key role in the plantation privatisation programme. He was the Chairman of United Nations Global Compact Network, Sri Lanka, a former President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Sri Lanka Chapter and a past Chairman of the Planters Association of Ceylon.

He is currently the President of the Palm Oil Industry Association which comprises growers, processors and refiners in the palm oil industry and also serves on the committee of the Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA).

Dr. Fernando was appointed as a member of the UNICEF Sri Lanka Business Council in 2023. He was also appointed under the Co-Chairmanship of Advisor to the President and Chairman of National Science Foundation, as a Member of the Expert Cluster on ‘Perennial Crops’ to achieve food security and nutrition in the country.

Dr. Fernando was appointed to the Main Board of Aitken Spence PLC on the 1st of April 2005 and is currently Head of the Plantations segment, Corporate Strategy and Sustainability for the Aitken Spence Group.

Ms. Nilanthi Sivapragasam joined the Aitken Spence Group after completing her articles at Ernst & Young, Colombo, and has since built a distinguished career within the Group. She currently serves as Group Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of Aitken Spence Corporate Services (Private) Limited.

She is also Joint Managing Director of CINEC Campus (Private) Limited, the largest maritime campus in South Asia, and serves on the boards of several subsidiaries and many joint venture companies of the Aitken Spence Group in Sri Lanka and overseas. In these capacities, she plays an important role in strengthening strategic relationships with joint venture partners and supporting the Group’s broader governance and business objectives.

She has been closely involved in several key strategic initiatives of the Group, including acquisitions, divestments, business restructures, capital transactions, and investment projects. Her contribution has included providing financial and strategic leadership in relation to transaction structuring, valuation, funding, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement across the Group’s portfolio.

She is a Fellow Member of CA Sri Lanka and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK. She currently serves as a Board Member of UNGC Network Sri Lanka and as a Member of the Taxation Steering Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Sivapragasam has been actively involved in several professional bodies and governance-related institutions over the years. She has served on the Statutory Accounting and Auditing Standards Committees of CA Sri Lanka and on the Financial Reporting Standards Implementation and Interpretation Committee and has also chaired the Financial Reporting Faculty. Her previous appointments include Board Member of the CIMA Sri Lanka Division (1997–1999 and 2010–2012), Board Member of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board (2009–2019), and Council Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (2011–2017). She also previously served as a Director of Women and Media Collective, a non-governmental organisation focused on the empowerment of women.

Mr. Susith Jayawickrama has had a career spanning over three decades with Aitken Spence and is the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, the hotel investment arm of Aitken Spence PLC, and Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Private) Limited, which manages the Group’s hotel portfolio.

Mr. Jayawickrama serves on the Aitken Spence Group Supervisory Board, the Group Management Council, and on the Boards of most hotel companies within the Group. He is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and the Chartered Global Management Accountants. He has more than three decades of experience in senior management positions within the Group’s hotel sector and the tourism industry, both in Sri Lanka and overseas.

Mr. Jayawickrama is a Past Vice President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL).

Mr. Leel Wickremarachchi joined Aitken Spence in February 2013 as the Deputy Chairman/Managing Director of its power segment. He also functions as CEO/Managing Director of Western Power Company (Private) Limited, a subsidiary of Aitken Spence PLC, which owns and operates the country’s first waste-to-energy power plant with an installed capacity of 10 MW.

Mr. Wickremarachchi has held senior positions in both public and private sector organisations. Immediately before joining Aitken Spence PLC, he worked as a consultant to the Government of Liberia in West Africa under a USAID-funded project in the renewable energy sector. He was Director General of the Public Enterprises Reform Commission (PERC) from 2004 to 2006. He also undertook a consultancy assignment in 2004 for the Ministry of Privatisation of the Government of Pakistan, funded by the Asian Development Bank, in establishing a Public-Private Infrastructure Financing Facility for Pakistan.

He previously worked at USAID Sri Lanka from 1992 to 1998, managing its project on establishing a market for private sector infrastructure in Sri Lanka, which resulted in the Government of Sri Lanka approving private sector investment in thermal power projects as Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Subsequently, he served as CEO of the Private Sector Infrastructure Development Company (PSIDC), a subordinated debt financing company for private sector-financed infrastructure, owned by the Government of Sri Lanka and funded by the World Bank and KfW of Germany.

Mr. Wickremarachchi holds an MSc in Engineering from the People’s Friendship University of Moscow, Russia, and an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He has also attended several executive development programmes, including programmes conducted by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, USA, on “Infrastructure in a Market Economy” and the National University of Singapore on “General Management”.

Mr. Nalin Jayasundera has had a career spanning four decades with Aitken Spence. Having successfully played different roles within the Tourism Sector, he assumed leadership of Aitken Spence Travels (Private) Limited (ASTL) as the Managing Director in 2013. ASTL is the leading destination management company in Sri Lanka and is a joint venture with TUI AG, the largest integrated tourism company in the world. He was appointed to the Group Supervisory Board of Aitken Spence PLC in 2026.

With his vast experience in the Tourism Sector and extensive knowledge of the travel industry, Mr. Jayasundera has played an important role in developing the sector by venturing into several new markets, creating new products, and identifying opportunities arising from emerging global trends.

One of his most notable achievements in recent years has been leading his team to grow the Aitken Spence Travels business to handle 230,000 passengers, the highest volume in the company’s history and the highest passenger count handled by any Destination Management Company in Sri Lanka during 2025/26. In addition to its presence in the Maldives, Aitken Spence Travels has expanded its operations to Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Mr. Jayasundera is currently the President of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and has previously held the position of Secretary. He was a member of the Sri Lanka Tourism Advisory Council, a Board Member of the Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau, and currently serves as a Board Member of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

He is a member of SLID and SKAL International. In 2025, he was appointed to the Presidential Task Force on Tourism to develop and promote the tourism industry.

Mr. Iqram Cuttilan joined Aitken Spence Shipping Limited in 1983. He was appointed as a Director of the company in 2000, as Chief Operating Officer in 2014 and as the Managing Director/CEO of the maritime segment in 2017. He is a member of the Management Council of Aitken Spence PLC and was appointed to the Group Supervisory Board of Aitken Spence PLC in 2026.

He currently oversees the maritime, freight and insurance segments of the Group.

He was involved in setting up port management activities in Africa and Fiji and serves as a Director of Fiji Ports Terminal Limited and Fiji Ports Corporation Limited. He is also a Director of the CINEC Campus (Private) Limited.

Mr. Cuttilan served as the Chairman of the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) between 2019 to 2021. Prior to this, he held the positions of Treasurer and Vice Chairman of CASA. He serves as a member of the Advisory Council of CASA.

He served as a member of the Advisory Committee on Logistics of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board between 2015 to 2021. He serves as a member of the Maritime & Logistics Committee of the European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) and the German Chamber of Commerce (AHK). He is a Past President of the Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and a Past President of the Sri Lanka Indonesia Friendship Association (SLIFA). He currently serves as Vice Patron of the Mercantile Hockey Association.

He holds a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)] (UK), a Diploma in Business Management (SLBDC) and is a Chartered Member of CILT (UK). He is also a member of the Alumni of the National University of Singapore and the Open University of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Janaka Gunawardena is a seasoned logistics and supply chain leader with over thirty-three years of senior management experience spanning integrated logistics, end-to-end supply chain management, FMCG, and real estate sectors. Since joining the Aitken Spence Group in 2016, he has been instrumental in advancing the Group’s integrated logistics portfolio, driving strategic growth, operational excellence, and market expansion across key geographies.

He began his professional career with Unilever Sri Lanka, where he developed a strong foundation in commercial and operational disciplines within a global corporate environment. Over the course of his career, he has held several high-impact leadership roles across South Asia and the Middle East, demonstrating a consistent track record in building scalable logistics operations and leading complex, multi-market businesses.

His previous appointments include Director of Mack International Freight (Pvt) Ltd (formerly the local agent for DB Schenker), Chief Executive Officer of Trans-Ware Logistics, and senior leadership roles within the John Keells Group. He has also served as Country Manager for DHL Nepal and held key operational leadership positions with the GAC Group, including General Manager at AICT Pakistan, one of the country’s largest dry ports, and Head of Logistics for Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.

At Aitken Spence, Mr. Gunawardena currently leads the Group’s integrated logistics sector, overseeing a diversified portfolio of logistics, warehousing, and supply chain solutions. His leadership is focused on driving business transformation, enhancing operational efficiencies, and positioning the organisation as a competitive regional logistics player.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Sydney, Australia, and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).

Mr. Jerome Brohier heads the agency representation and overseas operations segment within the Maritime & Freight Logistics Sector. He joined Aitken Spence Cargo in 2000 as the Manager of the express segment. He has over thirty-five years of experience in the express/logistics industry, a majority of which has been with Aitken Spence Cargo. He was appointed as a Director of the express segment in 2006 and also served as the Country Manager of TNT International Express in Sri Lanka and the Maldives from 2008 to 2011.

In 2011 he took over as the Vice President of the freight and courier segment. In 2022, he was promoted to Managing Director – Agency Representation and Overseas Operations with responsibility for freight, express and cargo aviation agencies in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives and Cambodia.

He is a member of the Management Council of Aitken Spence PLC and was appointed to the Group Supervisory Board of Aitken Spence PLC in 2026.

Mr. Brohier holds an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business (AIB), Adelaide, is an alumnus of the NUS–Stanford Graduate School of Business, Singapore and a member of the Association of Business Executives (ABE), UK. He is an Executive Committee member of the Sri Lanka – Singapore Business Council, a past president of the Sri Lanka Association of Air Express Companies and a former committee member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Vasantha Kudaliyanage is an accomplished and multifaceted leader in the aviation industry with comprehensive, in-depth experience and knowledge of the aviation business. He is the Managing Director of the General Sales Agency for Singapore Airlines.

Mr. Kudaliyanage’s professionalism and systematic approach continue to ensure excellent service delivery and effective project completion. His outstanding service has been recognised by Singapore Airlines, Aitken Spence’s longest GSA partner of 55 years, and he was awarded the CEO Award in 2010, along with several regional awards.

Having joined Aitken Spence, he counts over forty years of service, marked by exemplary loyalty, dedication, and reliability. His flexibility and adaptability in managing diverse services and delivering results have contributed to sustained operational excellence.

In his current role, a rapid overall growth has been achieved, with increased productivity at Aitken Spence Aviation. This performance has been recognised through multiple accolades, including the GRIT Award for Sales & Cargo in 2022, the CEO Excellence Award in 2023, followed by the Regional VP Excellence Award in 2023 and 2025 for Airport Operations.

Mr. Chaminda Hindurangala has been with the Aitken Spence Group for over twenty-five years, having initially joined in 1996 and rejoining in 2018. He has played significant roles within the power generation segment and the maritime segment, including serving as Head of Operations of the port management business in Africa.

He assumed leadership of the elevators segment in 2018. Aitken Spence Elevators (Private) Limited is a joint venture with OTIS Company (Singapore) and serves as the agent for OTIS in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. OTIS is a leading elevator brand globally.

In 2022, he was also given leadership of MMBL Money Transfer (Private) Limited, a joint venture with the MMBL Pathfinder Group. MMBL Money Transfer (Private) Limited is the largest representative for Western Union, RIA, and MoneyGram in Sri Lanka.

He is experienced in business development and business process re-engineering, with a focus on improving processes and increasing efficiency. He is also a Director of Aitken Spence Ports International Limited and CINEC Campus (Private) Limited.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), has completed CPA Australia, holds a Diploma in Marketing from CIM (UK), an MBA from the University of Wales (UK), and is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Mr. Deshantha Silva joined the Aitken Spence Group on 1st July 2021 and counts almost three decades of diverse management experience across multiple industries in the manufacturing and service sectors. He serves on the Aitken Spence Group Management Council by heading the Printing & Packaging segment as Director/Chief Executive Officer. His manufacturing industry exposure includes apparel, furniture, and printing & packaging industries.

He formerly held Chief Executive Officer positions at Finco Trading (Private) Limited, The Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC, and ACME Printing & Packaging PLC. He also held the position of Director/Chief Operating Officer at Alpha Industries (Private) Limited while serving the Finco Group of Companies for 15 years.

Mr. Silva is a qualified engineer, having graduated from the University of Moratuwa, and holds a Master of Business Administration with an Overall Merit Pass from the University of Colombo. He completed his qualifications in accountancy in 1995 and obtained membership from CIMA in 2001. With the completion of the Diploma in Marketing at CIM in 1999, he gained membership at CIM in 2002.

Currently, Mr. Silva is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) UK, an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK, and an Associate of the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) UK. He is also a Lifetime Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka (CPM) and a Fellow Member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants (CMA) Sri Lanka, the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) Australia, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.

He was a Director of the Association of Laminated Flexible Packaging Manufacturers (ALFPM) for many years and is currently a member of the Council of Management and the Governing Body of the Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging (SLIP).

He also served the Executive Committee of the Sri Lanka Association of Printers (SLAP) as a Committee Member and as General Secretary until recently.

Mr. Suresh Muttiah, prior to joining Aitken Spence PLC, was attached to the John Keells Group for a period of 10 years, where he held the positions of General Manager – Human Resources at Union Assurance PLC and Vice President Human Resources of the Group’s retail sector, playing a key leadership role in implementing several business transformation HR strategies.

He also worked at Dialog Axiata PLC for a period of 5 years and at Carson Cumberbatch Group for 7 years, holding key HR leadership positions. Overall, he has over 26 years of experience in the field of Human Resources, of which 22 years have been in leadership roles.

In recognition of his significant contributions to the field of HR, he has received several awards, including the ‘Outstanding HR Leadership of the Year Award’ in 2016, ‘Most Influential HR Leaders’ in 2019, ‘501 Fabulous Global HR Leaders of the World’ in 2020, and ‘Top Most HR Leaders Award, Sri Lanka’ in 2024 by the World HRD Congress. He was also recognised as the prestigious Alumnus of the Year by the University of Southern Queensland, Australia in 2017.

As Chairperson of the HR Sub-Committee of the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL), President of the University of Southern Queensland Alumni – Sri Lankan Chapter, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of HR Professionals Sri Lanka, he has been instrumental in executing several pioneering initiatives.

Mr. Muttiah holds an MBA and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia, and a Chartered Qualification in HRM (CQHRM) from the Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka. He is a Fellow of CIPD (UK), an Executive Committee member of AHRP (Sri Lanka), and a Chartered Member of CIPM Sri Lanka.

Mr. Lushan Perera joined the apparel industry in 1999 at LM Apparels (Brandix Casual Wear) in Sri Lanka as a Merchandiser for two years before moving to Next Sourcing Ltd, Sri Lanka (part of Next PLC UK), where he worked as a Merchandiser Controller, gaining five years of experience.

Between 2005 and 2008, he was attached to Melbourne Washing Plant Pvt Ltd., of the EAM Maliban Group, Sri Lanka as the Business Development and Customer Relationship Manager liaising with many global retailers and local manufacturing groups.

Subsequently, in 2008, Mr. Perera relocated to Bangladesh and assumed the position of Head Merchandiser at Regency Garments Ltd. His exceptional performance led to a promotion in 2014, when he was appointed as the General Manager Merchandising/Country Manager at FR Apparel Trading, a Dubai-based company that is a member of the Hirdaramani Group. Throughout his nine-year tenure with the company, he achieved remarkable revenue growth.

In 2016, Lushan assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer/Director at Progress Apparels Bangladesh Ltd, where he was a founding member. During his tenure, he successfully led the company to achieve an accumulative sales turnover exceeding USD 60 million within a span of 3 years. He continued to oversee all operations in this capacity until 2021.

In May 2022, Lushan assumed the position of Head of the Aitken Spence Apparel segment.

He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK and holds certifications as a Management Accountant and Global Business Analyst from ICMA Australia. Additionally, he pursued business studies at the National University of Singapore and obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Royal Roads University in Canada. Certificate, case studies of world’s leading companies from Harvard Business School 2019 and obtained various Industrial studies & certifications from Textile Universities in Sri Lanka.

Ms. Dinali Alexander serves as the Group Chief Supply Chain Officer of Aitken Spence PLC and Chief Transformation Officer (Vice President) of Aitken Spence Hotels, with oversight of operations across Sri Lanka, the Republic of Maldives, India, and the Sultanate of Oman.

With over 25 years of professional experience, she has built a distinguished career marked by expertise in supply chain transformation, strategic leadership, and operational excellence across multiple industries. In addition to her executive responsibilities, she serves on the boards of several local and international companies within the Group.

She is also a Board Member of the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka and currently serves as the Chairman of its Environment and Energy Committee, contributing to national and global dialogue on sustainability and responsible business practices.

She possesses extensive management experience spanning procurement, administration, human resources, and sustainability, gained across a diverse portfolio of sectors. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Cardiff Metropolitan University. Renowned for her integrity and resilience, she is committed to fostering high-performing teams and developing future leaders.

Ms. Yasangi Randeni is a sustainability practitioner with nearly two decades of experience integrating impact-driven sustainability into corporate strategy, governance, and risk management. She steered a strategy-led sustainability model at Aitken Spence PLC, earning national and international recognition for policy excellence and strategic interventions.

Building on earlier leadership, she played a central role in advancing the Group’s Best Corporate Citizen journey, significantly contributing to 19 consecutive rankings among the Top Ten Corporate Citizens and the Group’s entry into the Hall of Fame of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, with five wins as Best Corporate Citizen of Sri Lanka.

An engineer by qualification, Yasangi is an alumna of Monash University. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development from SOAS CeDEP, University of London, and spearheaded the integration of human rights and disaster risk reduction (DRR) into the Group’s sustainability strategy.

She played a key role in aligning the Group’s public disclosures with global frameworks such as GRI, SASB, and SLFRS S1 & S2, leveraging her expertise as a GRI Certified Professional. She also led the Group’s engagement with the GRI Community, positioning Aitken Spence PLC among a limited number of Sri Lankan companies to enhance access to global best practices and evolving sustainability standards.

She played a pivotal role in the Group’s alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), leading the target-setting process that enabled Aitken Spence to become the first conglomerate in Sri Lanka with SBTi-validated targets. She currently serves as the first Group Chief Sustainability Officer of Aitken Spence PLC.

Beyond the Group, Yasangi is an active voice in the sustainability discourse. She heads the Working Group on Business & Human Rights at the UN Global Compact (UNGC) Sri Lanka and engages with the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management and the Sri Lanka Preparedness Partnership through private sector consultation platforms.

She represents Aitken Spence in multiple UNGC working groups advancing responsible business practices, climate action, and inclusive growth. She also represents the Group in the Climate Action Steering Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Environment & Energy Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka.

A City & Guilds certified trainer and the first Distinguished Toastmaster from Aitken Spence PLC, she delivers sustainability-related programmes across all levels of the organisation and for external audiences, contributing to broader sustainability capability building.

Appointed in December 2013

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena is a graduate of St. James' & Lucie Clayton College and Keele University in the United Kingdom, the Emeritus Institute of Management in Singapore, and an Associate Alumni of the University of Cambridge (Judge Business School) in the United Kingdom.

Experience

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena marks several milestones for the Aitken Spence Group as the first female Chairperson in its 157-year history, with her appointment as Executive Chairperson in February 2025. She was also the youngest, and the first female to be appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC, Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, and Browns Beach Hotels PLC, in December 2013.

With a career spanning over 10 years at Aitken Spence, she wields a fresh perspective in management and heads strategic business units across the Group. She leads several key strategic teams as the Interim Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC, Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Pvt) Ltd., as Deputy Chairperson of Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC., and as a Member of the Board of Directors of Stassen Group, Melstacorp PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC and Elpitiya Plantations PLC.

The youngest intern to work under US Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and the Former US President Bill Clinton in 2003, Ms. Jayawardena was appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador for EY NextGen Club from 2017 to 2019. She has served as a Member of the PwC Next-and Now-Generation Advisory Council since 2020.

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena was appointed to the Executive Board of The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and has represented THASL at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Committee since 2019. She is an Executive Committee Member at the International Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, since 2020, and currently serves as Vice Chairman and a Steering Committee Member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Sector. She served as the Chairperson of the Employers' Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Hotels and Tourism Employers Group for the financial year 2020/21. She was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Colombo International Arbitration Centre, Sri Lanka in January 2025.

Ms. Jayawardena has represented the Company as the Ambassador for Aitken Spence PLC at the Target Gender Equality initiative of the UN Global Compact since 2020.

In recognition of her work and commitment to inspire, she was recognised at The Top 50 Professional & Career Women Awards in Sri Lanka with the Gold Award in the Hotel & Hospitality Sector in 2017, and, in 2020, the Sri Lankan business magazine, Echelon, listed her among the most innovative and influential young leaders to have succeeded in business and in shaping the future of Sri Lanka.

Ms. Jayawardena was the award recipient of the Expatriate Contribution Award – Gold Category – Women in Management Maldives. The Professional and Career Women Awards Maldives 2022 presented this award to Ms. Jayawardena for her exceptional contributions and achievements in the field of Hotels & Hospitality.

Ms. Jayawardena was an award recipient at the Global CEO Leadership Excellence Awards 2024 (which honoured 50 top-tier CEOs and their teams who successfully navigated challenges in turbulent times) and was again recognised for Excellence in Corporate Leadership at the Global CEO Top Businesswomen Award 2025. Ms. Jayawardena was also recognised with the ‘Trailblazing Corporate Leader’ Award at the 15th Top50 Professional and Career Women Global Awards 2025, organised by Women in Management, LMD’s Emerging Businessperson of the Year for 2025, and accepted the Award for Trailblazing Leadership and Transformational Corporate Stewardship at the CEO of the Year Awards 2025.

Ms. Nilanthi Sivapragasam joined the Aitken Spence Group after completing her articles at Ernst & Young, Colombo, and has since built a distinguished career within the Group. She currently serves as Group Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of Aitken Spence Corporate Services (Private) Limited.

She is also Joint Managing Director of CINEC Campus (Private) Limited, the largest maritime campus in South Asia, and serves on the boards of several subsidiaries and many joint venture companies of the Aitken Spence Group in Sri Lanka and overseas. In these capacities, she plays an important role in strengthening strategic relationships with joint venture partners and supporting the Group’s broader governance and business objectives.

She has been closely involved in several key strategic initiatives of the Group, including acquisitions, divestments, business restructures, capital transactions, and investment projects. Her contribution has included providing financial and strategic leadership in relation to transaction structuring, valuation, funding, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement across the Group’s portfolio.

She is a Fellow Member of CA Sri Lanka and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK. She currently serves as a Board Member of UNGC Network Sri Lanka and as a Member of the Taxation Steering Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Sivapragasam has been actively involved in several professional bodies and governance-related institutions over the years. She has served on the Statutory Accounting and Auditing Standards Committees of CA Sri Lanka and on the Financial Reporting Standards Implementation and Interpretation Committee and has also chaired the Financial Reporting Faculty. Her previous appointments include Board Member of the CIMA Sri Lanka Division (1997–1999 and 2010–2012), Board Member of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board (2009–2019), and Council Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (2011–2017). She also previously served as a Director of Women and Media Collective, a non-governmental organisation focused on the empowerment of women.

Appointed in April 2005

Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
Dr. R.M. Fernando holds a PhD and an MBA from the University of Colombo and is also a Chartered Marketer and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM UK).

Experience

Dr. Fernando joined Aitken Spence Plantation Management in May 1994 and has served as the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC and Elpitiya Plantations PLC since August 1997. He was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of both companies with effect from 1st April 2026. He has extensive experience in the plantation industry; both in the public and private sectors; corporate management, corporate strategy and has played a key role in the plantation privatisation programme. He was the Chairman of United Nations Global Compact Network, Sri Lanka, a former President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Sri Lanka Chapter and a past Chairman of the Planters Association of Ceylon.

He is currently the President of the Palm Oil Industry Association which comprises growers, processors and refiners in the palm oil industry and also serves on the committee of the Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA).

Dr. Fernando was appointed as a member of the UNICEF Sri Lanka Business Council in 2023. He was also appointed under the Co-Chairmanship of Advisor to the President and Chairman of National Science Foundation, as a Member of the Expert Cluster on ‘Perennial Crops’ to achieve food security and nutrition in the country.

Dr. Fernando was appointed to the Main Board of Aitken Spence PLC on the 1st of April 2005 and is currently Head of the Plantations segment, Corporate Strategy and Sustainability for the Aitken Spence Group.

Mr. Susith Jayawickrama has had a career spanning over three decades with Aitken Spence and is the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, the Hotel investment arm of Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Private) Limited, which manages the Group’s hotel portfolio.

Mr. Jayawickrama serves on the Aitken Spence Group Supervisory Board, the Group Management Council and on the Boards of most hotel companies in the Group. He is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK and the Chartered Global Management Accountants. He has more than three decades of experience in senior management positions in the Group’s hotel sector and the tourism industry both in Sri Lanka and overseas.

Mr. Jayawickrama is a past Vice President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL).

Mr. Nalin Jayasundera has had a career spanning four decades with Aitken Spence. Having successfully played different roles within the Tourism Sector he assumed leadership of Aitken Spence Travels (Private) Limited (ASTL) as the Managing Director in 2013. ASTL is the leading destination management company in Sri Lanka and is a joint venture with TUI AG, the largest integrated tourism company in the world. He was appointed to the Group Supervisory Board of Aitken Spence PLC in 2026.

With the vast experience in the Tourism Sector that he possesses and the extensive knowledge of the travel industry, Mr. Jayasundera has played an important role in developing the Tourism Sector by venturing into several new markets and creating new products, while seeking new opportunities from emerging new global trends. His best accolade in the recent years is leading his team to grow the Aitken Spence Travels business by guiding the tourism sector to handle 230,000 pax, which is the best ever in the history of the company and is also the highest pax count handled by any Destination Management Company in Sri Lanka during 2025/26. In addition to its presence in the Maldives, Aitken Spence Travels has expanded its business to Myanmar and Bangladesh.

With the vast experience in the Tourism Sector that he possesses and the extensive knowledge of the travel industry, Mr. Jayasundera has played an important role in developing the Tourism Sector by venturing into several new markets and creating new products, while seeking new opportunities from emerging new global trends. His best accolade in the recent years is leading his team to grow the Aitken Spence Travels business by guiding the tourism sector to handle 230,000 pax, which is the best ever in the history of the company and is also the highest pax count handled by any Destination Management Company in Sri Lanka during 2025/26. In addition to its presence in the Maldives, Aitken Spence Travels has expanded its business to Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Mr. Jayasundera is currently the President of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and he has held the position of Secretary in the past. He was a member of the Sri Lanka Tourism Advisory Council, a Board Member of the Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau and currently serves as a Board Member of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. He is a member of SLID and SKAL International. In 2025, he was appointed to the Presidential Task Force on Tourism to develop and promote the tourism industry.

Mr. Iqram Cuttilan joined Aitken Spence Shipping Limited in 1983. He was appointed as a Director of the company in 2000, as Chief Operating Officer in 2014 and as the Managing Director/CEO of the maritime segment in 2017. He is a member of the Management Council of Aitken Spence PLC and was appointed to the Group Supervisory Board of Aitken Spence PLC in 2026.

He currently oversees the maritime, freight and insurance segments of the Group.

He was involved in setting up port management activities in Africa and Fiji and serves as a Director of Fiji Ports Terminal Limited and Fiji Ports Corporation Limited. He is also a Director of the CINEC Campus (Private) Limited.

Mr. Cuttilan served as the Chairman of the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) between 2019 to 2021. Prior to this, he held the positions of Treasurer and Vice Chairman of CASA. He serves as a member of the Advisory Council of CASA.

He served as a member of the Advisory Committee on Logistics of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board between 2015 to 2021. He serves as a member of the Maritime & Logistics Committee of the European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) and the German Chamber of Commerce (AHK). He is a Past President of the Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and a Past President of the Sri Lanka Indonesia Friendship Association (SLIFA). He currently serves as Vice Patron of the Mercantile Hockey Association.

He holds a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)] (UK), a Diploma in Business Management (SLBDC) and is a Chartered Member of CILT (UK). He is also a member of the Alumni of the National University of Singapore and the Open University of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Jerome Brohier heads the agency representation and overseas operations segment within the Maritime & Freight Logistics Sector. He joined Aitken Spence Cargo in 2000 as the Manager of the express segment. He has over thirty-five years of experience in the express/logistics industry, a majority of which has been with Aitken Spence Cargo. He was appointed as a Director of the express segment in 2006 and also served as the Country Manager of TNT International Express in Sri Lanka and the Maldives from 2008 to 2011.

In 2011 he took over as the Vice President of the freight and courier segment. In 2022, he was promoted to Managing Director – Agency Representation and Overseas Operations with responsibility for freight, express and cargo aviation agencies in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives and Cambodia.

He is a member of the Management Council of Aitken Spence PLC and was appointed to the Group Supervisory Board of Aitken Spence PLC in 2026.

Mr. Brohier holds an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business (AIB), Adelaide, is an alumnus of the NUS–Stanford Graduate School of Business, Singapore and a member of the Association of Business Executives (ABE), UK. He is an Executive Committee member of the Sri Lanka – Singapore Business Council, a past president of the Sri Lanka Association of Air Express Companies and a former committee member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Geethkumara, the Director/Chief Executive Officer of Elpitiya Plantations PLC, currently serves as a Director on the Boards of Aitken Spence Plantation Management PLC and Elpitiya Plantations PLC. Mr. Geethkumara joined Elpitiya Plantations Limited under the management of Messrs Carsons Agro Services (Pvt) Limited when the estates were privatised by the Government in June 1992 and has over 38 years of experience in the plantation sector.

Mr. Geethkumara is currently reading for a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at the Faculty of Management & Finance of the University of Colombo and holds a Master’s degree in Conflict & Peace Studies from the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Colombo.

He also holds a Diploma in Plantation Management from the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM) and a Diploma in Marketing from the London Business School.

Mr. Geethkumara has served as the Chairman of the Regional Scientific Committee of the Tea Research Institute of the Galle District and as the Honorary Secretary of the Galle District Planters’ Association of Ceylon.

He has also held the positions of Secretary to the Forest and Timber Certification Foundation and Treasurer of the former Ceylon Cinnamon Geographical Indication Association.