Leadership Profile

The Board bears responsibility for the Group’s performance, and is accountable to the shareholders who appoint them. Their vision provides policy direction while diligent oversight facilitates delivery of strategic goals.

Appointed to the Board in April 2000, Mr. Harry Jayawardena was the Chairman of Aitken Spence PLC since April 2003. He led many successful enterprises and was on the board of several listed and privately held companies. He received the prestigious ‘Deshamanya’ honour for his visionary contribution to the country.

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena marks several milestones for Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC as the youngest Board Member, and the first female member on the Board. Ms. Jayawardena was appointed as Chairperson of Aitken Spence PLC in February 2025. Prior to this appointment she was the Joint Deputy Chairperson and Joint Managing Director, Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings in September 2023. She heads the Tourism sector of Aitken Spence PLC inclusive of hotels, destination management and overseas travel.

Ms. Jayawardena is the Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC and Browns Beach Hotels PLC and, Deputy Chairperson of Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC, and continues as Director of Melstacorp PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC.

She was the youngest intern to work under US Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and the Former US President Bill Clinton in 2003.

Ms. Jayawardena holds board member positions in several business associations and committees such as in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Sri Lanka and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce are to name a few.

In recognition of her dedication and inspirational work, Ms. Jayawardena has been honoured with awards from both local and international organisations.

Her passion lies in leading the next generation of business, guided by core values of integrity, sustainability, empowerment, and equal opportunities, all while leveraging data and technology.

Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake is the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC with effect from March 2019. Prior to this appointment, he was Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Southern Development, and was the first non-British International President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers of UK.

Dr. Rohan Fernando joined Aitken Spence in 1994. He has been the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Plantation Management and Elpitiya Plantations PLC since August 1997, and was appointed to the Main Board in April 2005. He Heads the Sustainability for the Aitken Spence Group. Dr. Fernando was former Chairman of United Nations Global Compact Network in Sri Lanka. In 2022, Dr. Fernando received the Lifetime Marker’s Achievement Award from the Association of International Marketing Graduates in Sri Lanka (AIMG).

Mr. Rajan Brito joined the Board of Aitken Spence PLC in April 2000, was appointed Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC December 2001 and Deputy Chairman in April 2003. Mr Brito continues to be a Non-Executive Director of Aitken Spence PLC post his retirement in March 2019.

Mr. Niranjan Deva Aditya is one of the most recognized and long-serving politicians in the UK with over 35 years in public service, and became the first Asian born MP to be elected to the European Parliament. Mr. Deva Aditya joined the Company in 2006 as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Mr. Asirwatham was appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC in September 2009. He was the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Tourism Project funded by the World Bank and is presently the Chairman of the Financial Systems Stability Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Jansz is a Director of Stassen Group, Melstacorp Group, Lanka Milk Foods Group and Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC. He is the Chairman of Melsta Hospitals Ragama (Pvt) Ltd.and Melsta Hospitals Colombo North (Pvt) Ltd.

Mr. Christian 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 services to clients specifically focused on accounting services and tax work. Additionally, Christian is a Regulated Individual regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC).

Mr. Mihtilar served as the Managing Partner of KPMG Sri Lanka & Maldives from April i, now to March J1, 2022 and was the Chairman of KPI\/tG's Middle East & South Asia (MESA) Regional Cluster during the period 1st October zoi8 tO 3Oth September 2oni. Reyaz 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. Mih tilar is a Past President and 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. He also served as the Chairman of the CIMA Sri Lanka. Reyaz has completed International Executive Education programmes at INSEAD, France, Harvard Business School and the London Business School, UK.

Mr. Mihiilar served as a Board Member of the International Accounting Standards Comiiiittee (IASC) from igg6 to zooo. Subseque ntly lie served on the IASC's Standing Interpretations Committee and as a Member of the II'RS Advisory Council of the International Accounting Standards Board. he also served as a member of the International Ethics Standarrls Board for Accountants (IES BA) from You to noi8.

Mr. Mihiilar 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, Sunshine Teas (Pvt) Ltd, Watawala Dairy (Pvt) Ltd, Agility Innovation (Pvt) Ltd, Daniro Holdings Ltd and LTL Holdings Ltd. He also serves on the Colombo Port City Econorrñc Commission as a Commissioner and as a Member of the Stakeholder Engagement Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Peter Englisch is a seasoned executive with over three decades of experience in the fields of family business advisory, assurance, and tax services. With a strong educational background, including 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), Peter has established himself as a thought leader and trusted advisor in the industry. Throughout his career, Peter 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. Peter'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. Recognized for his contributions, Peter 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

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. He completed the Advanced Management Program at the INSEAD Business School (France) and is an Executive in Residence since 2010. He is a Member of the Board of Study at the Post Graduate 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, Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC, UN Global Compact, LOLC Holdings PLC, 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.

Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake is the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC with effect from March 2019. Prior to this appointment, he was Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Southern Development, and was the first non-British International President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers of UK.

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena marks several milestones for Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC as the youngest Board Member, and the first female member on the Board. Ms. Jayawardena was appointed as Chairperson of Aitken Spence PLC in February 2025. Prior to this appointment she was the Joint Deputy Chairperson and Joint Managing Director, Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings in September 2023. She heads the Tourism sector of Aitken Spence PLC inclusive of hotels, destination management and overseas travel.

Ms. Jayawardena is the Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC and Browns Beach Hotels PLC and, Deputy Chairperson of Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC, and continues as Director of Melstacorp PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC.

She was the youngest intern to work under US Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and the Former US President Bill Clinton in 2003.

Ms. Jayawardena holds board member positions in several business associations and committees such as in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Sri Lanka and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce are to name a few.

In recognition of her dedication and inspirational work, Ms. Jayawardena has been honoured with awards from both local and international organisations.

Her passion lies in leading the next generation of business, guided by core values of integrity, sustainability, empowerment, and equal opportunities, all while leveraging data and technology.

Dr. Rohan Fernando joined Aitken Spence in 1994. He has been the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Plantation Management and Elpitiya Plantations PLC since August 1997, and was appointed to the Main Board in April 2005. He Heads the Sustainability for the Aitken Spence Group. Dr. Fernando was former Chairman of United Nations Global Compact Network in Sri Lanka. In 2022, Dr. Fernando received the Lifetime Marker’s Achievement Award from the Association of International Marketing Graduates in Sri Lanka (AIMG).

Ms. Nilanthi Sivapragasam joined Aitken Spence in 1986 and is now Chief Financial Officer of the Group. She is also the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Corporate Finance (Pvt) Ltd, Joint Managing Director of the CINEC Campus (Pvt) Ltd, and Director to several subsidiaries and joint ventures of the Group

With a career spanning close to three decades at Aitken Spence, Mr. Susith Jayawickrama is at present responsible for managing all Group Hotels in overseas markets. A past Vice President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, he serves on the Boards of most hotel companies in the Group.

Mr. Leel Wickremarachchi joined Aitken Spence in 2013. Prior to joining Aitken Spence PLC, he worked as a consultant in Liberia in West Africa under a USAID funded project in renewable energy, was Director General of the Public Enterprises Reform Commission (PERC), and also consulted for the Asian Development Bank.

With a career spanning over 3 decades with Aitken Spence, Mr. Nalin Jayasundera has successfully taken on different roles within the tourism sector, taking the lead at Aitken Spence Travels in 2013. Under his guidance, the Aitken Spence Travels business has grown by 100% over the last 5 years.

Mr. Iqram Cuttilan joined Aitken Spence Shipping Limited In 1983, and was appointed as a Director of the company in 2000, and as the Managing Director of the maritime sector in 2017. Mr. Cuttilan was involved in the setting up of the port management business in Africa and Fiji.

Mr. Janaka Gunawardena joined the Aitken Spence Group in 2016, bringing with him over 32 years of diverse management experience across multiple industry verticals including Integrated logistics, Supply Chain management, FMCG & Real Estate. In his current role, Mr. Gunawardena leads and directs the integrated logistics sector of the Group.

Mr. Jerome Brohier joined Aitken Spence Cargo in year 2000 and has over 30 years of experience in the express/ logistics industry, with 18 of them at Aitken Spence Cargo. Today, he holds responsibility for freight, customs brokerage, express and cargo aviation in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives.

Mr. Vasantha Kudaliyanage is an accomplished multifaceted leader in the aviation industry with comprehensive in-depth experience & knowledge of the aviation business. Counting over 33 years of service, he was recognised by Singapore Airlines and he was presented with the 2010 – CEO Award for his outstanding performance.

Having successfully played significant roles within the power generation segment and the maritime segment at Aitken Spence over a span of 18 years, Mr. Chaminda Hindurangala took over the leadership of the elevators segment in 2018. He was previously heading operations of the port management business in Africa.

Mr. Bhathiya Bulumulla joined Elpitiya Plantations PLC in February 1999 and was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company in 2013. He was appointed as the Director of Aitken Spence Plantations Managements PLC and of Elpitiya Plantations PLC during the years 2017 and 2018. He is the current Chairman of the Planters Association of Ceylon and serves on the Board of Plantation Human Development Trust and the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Deshantha Silva joined the Aitken Spence in 2021, bringing with him over 24 years of diverse management experience across multiple industries in manufacturing and service sectors. He heads the Printing & Packaging segment as Director/ Chief Executive Officer. His manufacturing industry exposure includes apparel, furniture, and printing & packaging industries.

Mr. Suresh Muttiah joined Aitken Spence in 2022 and counts 22 years in the field of Human Resources of which 18 years in leadership positions. In recognition of his significant contributions in the field of HR, Mr. Muttiah was recognised with the ‘Outstanding HR Leadership of The Year Award’ in 2016, ‘Most Influential HR Leaders’ in 2019 and ‘501 Fabulous Global HR Leaders of the World’ by World HRD Congress. He is instrumental in implementing transformational HR strategies for the Group.

Mr. Lushan Perera joined Aitken Spence in May 2022 and heads the Apparel segment for the Group. He counts over 23 years of experience in the apparel industry, both in Sri Lanka and overseas, with over 13 years in senior managerial positions.

Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake is the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC with effect from March 2019. Prior to this appointment, he was Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Southern Development, and was the first non-British International President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers of UK.

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena marks several milestones for Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC as the youngest Board Member, and the first female member on the Board. Ms. Jayawardena was appointed as Chairperson of Aitken Spence PLC in February 2025. Prior to this appointment she was the Joint Deputy Chairperson and Joint Managing Director, Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings in September 2023. She heads the Tourism sector of Aitken Spence PLC inclusive of hotels, destination management and overseas travel.

Ms. Jayawardena is the Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC and Browns Beach Hotels PLC and, Deputy Chairperson of Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC, and continues as Director of Melstacorp PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC.

She was the youngest intern to work under US Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and the Former US President Bill Clinton in 2003.

Ms. Jayawardena holds board member positions in several business associations and committees such as in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Sri Lanka and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce are to name a few.

In recognition of her dedication and inspirational work, Ms. Jayawardena has been honoured with awards from both local and international organisations.

Her passion lies in leading the next generation of business, guided by core values of integrity, sustainability, empowerment, and equal opportunities, all while leveraging data and technology.

Dr. Rohan Fernando joined Aitken Spence in 1994. He has been the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Plantation Management and Elpitiya Plantations PLC since August 1997, and was appointed to the Main Board in April 2005. He Heads the Sustainability for the Aitken Spence Group. Dr. Fernando was former Chairman of United Nations Global Compact Network in Sri Lanka. In 2022, Dr. Fernando received the Lifetime Marker’s Achievement Award from the Association of International Marketing Graduates in Sri Lanka (AIMG).

Ms. Nilanthi Sivapragasam joined Aitken Spence in 1986 and is now Chief Financial Officer of the Group. She is also the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Corporate Finance (Pvt) Ltd, Joint Managing Director of the CINEC Campus (Pvt) Ltd, and Director to several subsidiaries and joint ventures of the Group