Directors
Mohan Pandithage
Chairman & Chief Executive
Joined the Hayleys Group in 1969. Appointed to the Board of Hayleys PLC in 1998 and as the Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys PLC in July 2009.
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK). Serves as Honorary Consul of the United Mexican States (Mexico) to Sri Lanka. Council Member of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon. Member of the Advisory Council of the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA).
Leadership Excellence Recognition by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. Recipient of the ‘Best Shipping Personality’ Award by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. Honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Seatrade – Sri Lanka Ports, Trade and Logistics (SLPTL) and the first-ever Sri Lanka Pinnacle Lifetime Award by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). Inducted as Legend of Logistics by the Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarding Association in recognition of services rendered to Sri Lanka’s logistics industry.
Chairman & Chief Executive
Dhammika Perera
Co-Chairman and Non Executive Director
Mr. Perera is a philanthropist, quintessential strategist and business leader with interests in various key industries, including manufacturing, banking and finance, leisure, plantations, and hydropower generation. He has over 35 years of experience building formidable businesses through unmatched strategic foresight and extensive governance experience gained through membership of the Boards of quoted and unquoted companies.
Mr. Perera is the Chairman/Founder of Dhammika & Priscilla Perera Foundation.
Co-Chairman and Non Executive Director
Rajitha Kariyawasan
Executive Director
Joined Hayleys Group in January 2010. Appointed to the Group Management Committee in February 2010. Appointed to the Board in June 2010. Holds a BSc. Eng. (Electronics and Telecommunications) from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK. Also a Six Sigma (Continuous Improvement Methodology) Black Belt, certified by the Motorola University, Malaysia. Before joining Hayleys, held the position of Director/ General Manager of Ansell Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. Served as the Chairman of the Manufacturing Association of Export Processing Zone, Biyagama. Has overall responsibility for the Purification Products sector as the Managing Director of Haycarb PLC. Serves as the Deputy Chairman of Eco Solutions Sector whilst functioning as a Director of Dipped Products PLC and Hayleys Fibre PLC.
Executive Director
Sarath Ganegoda
Executive Director
Rejoined Hayleys in March 2007. Appointed to the Group Management Committee in July 2007. Appointed to the Board in September 2009. Fellow Member of CA Sri Lanka and Member of Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Australia. Holds an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Worked for Hayleys Group between 1987 and 2002, ultimately as an Executive Director. Subsequently, held several senior management positions in large private sector entities in Sri Lanka and overseas. Has responsibility for the Strategic Business Development Unit, Group Information Technology of Hayleys PLC. He serves on the Boards of Unisyst Engineering PLC, Alumex PLC, Dipped Products PLC, Haycarb PLC, Hayleys Fabric PLC, Hayleys Fibre PLC, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, Regnis (Lanka) PLC, Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC, Singer Industries (Ceylon) PLC, The Kingsbury PLC, Horana Plantations PLC.
Executive Director
Harsha Cabral, PC
Independent Non-Executive Director
Dr. Cabral is a President’s Counsel in Sri Lanka with thirty-two years’ experience in the field of Company Law, Intellectual Property Law, Commercial Law, Securities Laws, International Trade Law & Commercial Arbitration. He has been a President’s Counsel for fifteen years and commands an extensive practice in the Commercial High Courts and the Supreme Courts of Sri Lanka. He holds a doctorate in Corporate Law from the University of Canberra, Australia and is a sitting member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration in Paris. Dr.Cabral is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators (UK). Dr. Cabral is also Representative Member of the Federation of Integrated Conflict Management (FICM) as well as a Representative Member of the International Commercial Disputes Tribunal (ICDT). Dr. Cabral is a Member of the Law Commission of Sri Lanka, a Member of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, a Member of the Intellectual Property Advisory Commission of Sri Lanka, a Member of the UGC Standing Committee on Legal Matters, UGC Nominee on the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), a Board Director at SLIIT and a Member of the Board of Management of the NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka. He is a Council Member of the Institute for the Development of Commercial Law & Practice (ICLP) and the Course Director for the Diploma in Commercial Arbitration. As a Member of the Advisory Commission on Company Law in Sri Lanka, Dr. Cabral was one of the architects of the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007, the current Act. As a Member of the Council of Legal Education in Sri Lanka, as a Member the Ministerial Committee appointed to reform Commercial Arbitration in Sri Lanka, as a Founder Board Member of the Sri Lanka International Arbitration Centre, as a Member of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, as a Member of the National Science Foundation, and as the current Vice President of BRIPASL (Business Recovery & Insolvency Practitioners Association of Sri Lanka) Dr.Cabral has contributed immensely to the legal academia and the corporate community of Sri Lanka. He serves as the Chairman of the Tokyo Cement Group, which commands the largest market share for cement in Sri Lanka. He was the immediate past Chairman of LOLC Finance PLC, one of the largest Finance Companies in Sri Lanka. He was a senior Director of the Union Bank of Sri Lanka. Dr.Cabral serves as Independent Non-Executive Director of Hatton National Bank PLC, DIMO PLC, Alumex PLC, Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC, Tokyo Super Cement Company Lanka (Private) Limited, Tokyo Cement Power Lanka (Private) Limited, Tokyo Eastern Cement Company (Private) Limited, Tokyo Super Aggregate (Private) Limited, Tokyo Supermix (Private) Limited, World Export Centre Limited, CCC-ICLP Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (Guarantee) Limited and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (Guarantee) Limited (SLIIT) and serves on several Audit Committees, Nomination Committees, Remuneration Committees and the Related Party Transaction Review Committee, chairing most of them. Dr. Cabral is a visiting lecturer at several Universities (local and international) and a regular speaker at public seminars, author of several books and has presented several papers on Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Trade Law & Commercial Arbitration here and abroad. In addition to his active practice in courts and lecturing, he has been a counsel in many a Arbitration and has served as Sole-Arbitrator, Co-Arbitrator and Chairman in a large number of Arbitrations, domestic and international.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Ruwan Waidyaratne
Executive Director
Joined the Hayleys Group in 1985. Has a wide range of expertise in the business of shipping, freight forwarding, logistics and aviation. He has grown through the ranks to become the Managing Director of Hayleys Advantis Limited whilst being appointed as an Executive Director of the Board of Hayleys PLC in April 2013. Currently he holds overall responsibility for the Transportation, and Logistics Sector of theHayleys Group. Former Chairman of the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA). Former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders’ Association (SLFFA) and currently serves as a member of its Advisory Council. He is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport of Sri Lanka. He is a Member of the Steering Committee on Ports, Shipping, Aviation and Logistics affiliated to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and a Member of the National Agenda Committee on Logistics & Transport of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. He holds an MBA from the Edith Cowan University of Western Australia and has undergone executive development programmes with the National University of Singapore, Indian School of Business and INSEAD.
Executive Director
Aravinda Perera
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board as Independent Non-Executive Director and as Chairman of Audit Committee in September 2016. Mr Aravinda Perera counts over 36 years in the Banking sector and functioned as the Managing Director of Sampath Bank PLC from 1st January 2012, until his retirement in September 2016. He is presently the Chairman of Singer Finance (Lanka) PLC. He is also a Director of Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC, Rocell Bathware Ltd and further to the Directorships, he Chairs the Audit committees of Hayleys Aventura Private Ltd, Hayleys Advantis Ltd and Fentons Ltd. He was former Chairman of Siyapatha Finance PLC, former Director of Sampath Centre Ltd., Colombo Stock Exchange and Lanka Bangla Finance Limited in Bangladesh. He passed out from University of Moratuwa in 1980 with an Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Member of the Institute of Engineers (Sri Lanka) and a Chartered Engineer. He is also a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers– Sri Lanka. He also holds an MBA from the Past Graduate Institute of Management. Mr. Perera was honoured with the “CEO Leadership Achievement Award 2016” by the Asian Banker magazine and was also the recipient of the prestigious “Platinum Honours – 2014” Award by the Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni of Sri Jayawardenapura University. He was honoured with the “Award for the Outstanding Contribution to the Banking Industry – 2015” by the Association of Professional Bankers and was also awarded an Honorary Life Membership by the Association of Professional Bankers in October 2018.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Jayanthi Dharmasena
Executive Director
Joined Hayleys Group as a Management Accountant in 1991 and has been with Hayleys Agriculture Sector throughout the career at Hayleys. Appointed to the Group Management Committee and to the Board on 1st April 2018. She is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK. Has responsibility for the Hayleys Agriculture Sector.
Executive Director
Rohan Karr
Executive Director
Joined the Board and Group Management Committee of Hayleys PLC on 1st June 2019. Mr. Karr holds a Masters in Hospitality and Business Studies from UK, and is a veteran in the hospitality industry with 35 years’ experience in Executive Vice President / General Manager positions in leading hotels in Sri Lanka and London. He has served as Regional Director of Revenue Management of Marriott Hotels for Whitbread Hotel Company, England, as General Manager of Bristol Marriott Hotel, England and Marriott Marble Arch, London before his return to Sri Lanka. He was instrumental in revitalising standards for the entire domestic hospitality sector through his ground-breaking work as Executive Vice President of John Keells Holdings, overlooking Cinnamon City Hotels and Resorts chain and as Head of Brand Development. He also serves as Managing Director of the Hayleys Leisure sector including Amaya Leisure PLC and The Kingsbury PLC.
Executive Director
Gamini Gunaratne
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board on 1st October 2019. He presently serves as Chairman of Lanka Hotels and Residencies (Pvt) Ltd (Sheraton Colombo), Board Member of Swisstek Ceylon PLC, Regnis (Lanka) PLC, Dipped Products PLC, Lanka Walltiles PLC, Lanka Tiles PLC, Lanka Ceramic PLC and Horana Plantations PLC. Previously he has served as Vice Chairman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Timothy Speldewinde
Independent Non-Executive Director
Mr. Timothy Speldewinde is a Fellow Member of the CA Sri Lanka and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK.
Mr. Speldewinde is the former CEO of Stretchline Holdings headquartered in Hong Kong, with manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka and overseas. He possesses wide experience in managing local as well as international facilities and has been an integral member of the MAS Group for over 26 years.
Mr. Speldewinde is a Consultant to the Board of MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and currently serves on the Boards of The Kingsbury PLC, Horana Plantations PLC and WealthTrust Securities Limited as Audit Committee Chairman. He is also a Director of Contemporary Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Yohan Perera
Independent Non-Executive Director
Yohan Perera is a Fellow Member of the CA Sri Lanka (FCA) and a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA)-UK.
Yohan served as a Partner at KPMG Sri Lanka and Maldives for 33 years. During this period, he also served the Firm as the Head of HR, Risk Management Partner and Chief Operating Officer before he was appointed as the Managing Partner. He served on the KPMG Middle East & South Asia Board during his tenure as Managing Partner of the Firm.
He counts over 40 years of experience in audits of conglomerates with diversified business interests and listed companies covering across sectors such as manufacturing, retail, hospitality, insurance and financial services.
Yohan served as the President of CA Sri Lanka during the years 2006 and 2007. He also served as a Board Member of the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA), one of four regional organisations (ROs) recognised by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
He has also served as a Member of the Securities & Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Member of the Monetary Policy Consultative Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Member of the Governing Council of the Post Graduate Institute of Management of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura and as a Consultant to Audit Committee of Listed Companies.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Jonathan Alles
Independent Non-Executive Director
Mr Jonathan Alles was the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Hatton National Bank PLC, one of Sri Lanka’s largest private sector banks. He counts over 37 years of banking experience, having served several international banks including the National Bank of Abu-Dhabi, Saudi British Bank-Riyadh, British Bank of the Middle-East and HSBC, Dubai and Colombo, before taking on the reins at HNB.
He served on many Boards within the HNB Group as well as in the Banking Industry. Mr Alles was a Director of the Sri Lanka Banks Association (SLBA) and was its Chairman from 2014 to 2016. In 2018, he was elected Chairman of Asian Bankers Association, a position he held for 3 years and was a member of its Board of Directors and also served as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee.
He was recently appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director to the Board of United Motors Lanka PLC, Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC and Lion Brewery Ceylon PLC.
Mr Alles holds a First Class MBA in Finance from the University of Stirling, UK. He is an Associate Member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (AIB SL).
Independent Non-Executive Director
Group Management Committee
Roshan Rajadurai
Managing Director of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC and Horana Plantations PLC. Holds a B.Sc. In Plantation Management, MBA from the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, a D.Sc. from Wayamba University and a Ph.D from University of Hawaii, USA. Since 1993 – 2001 held Senior Plantation Management position in Kelani Valley Plantations PLC and from 2002 – 2012 joined Kahawatte Plantations of Dilmah and was Director/CEO 2008–2012. He was also the Chairman of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon and was/is a member of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Rubber Research Board, Tea Research Institute, Tea Council of Sri Lanka and the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority of Sri Lanka. He was the Chairman of the Consultative Committee on Estate and Advisory Services, a member of the Experiment and Extension Forum of the Tea Research Institute, a Member of the Consultative Committee on Research of the TRI. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Veterinary and Animal Sciences of the University Grant Commission as well as a member of the Arbitration and Mediation Steering Committee of the Chamber of Commerce.
Managing Director – Hayleys Plantations
Rohan Goonetilleke
Joined the Group as Managing Director /CEO of Hayleys Fabric PLC in March 2013, and was appointed to the Group Management Committee in the same month. Prior to joining Hayleys Fabric, he was appointed as a Director of Brandix X’pressions (Pvt) Ltd, and was appointed to the Board of CLT Apparel (India) (Pvt) Ltd in January 2011, a fully owned subsidiary of Brandix Lanka Ltd. During the period, 2003 to 2010 he was the Managing Director/CEO of Textured Jersey Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, prior to which he was the Managing Director/ CEO of Linea Clothing (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, and prior to that he was at Carson Cumberbatch & Company Ltd as the CEO of Elpitiya Plantations Ltd. He received his higher education in the United Kingdom qualifying as a Graduate Engineer.
Managing Director – Hayleys Fabric PLC
Darshi Talpahewa
Joined Hayleys Group in January 2010 and appointed to the Group Management Committee in November 2015. Non-Executive Director Singer Finance (Lanka) PLC. Lawyer by profession, with a LL.B from the University of Colombo and Attorneys-At- Law with first class honours from Sri Lanka Law College. Holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Northampton. Also holds Master’s Degrees in International Relations and Law, from the University of Colombo. Has had the unique opportunity of working in the government, non-governmental, private /corporate sectors including the banking sector and academia. Has responsibility for Human Resources and Legal services for the Hayleys Group.
Head – Group Human Resources & Legal
Pramuk Dediwela
Mr. Dediwela started his career in January 1989 and has over 30 years of experience in the fields of Marketing and Sales, Material and Logistics, Finance, Production and Administration/Human Resources under Alumex group. He was appointed as an Executive Director of the Alumex PLC and its subsidiaries, Alco industries (Private) limited in December 2010 and appointed as the Managing Director and also to the Group Management Committee in July 2018. Mr.Dediwela is a marketer cum financial economist and holds Master of Financial Economics from University of Colombo, Master of Business Administration from University of Southern Queensland, Post-Graduate Diploma in Business and Financial Administration (CA Sri Lanka/Cranfield – UK), Post- Graduate Diploma in Marketing from Chartered Institute of Marketing – UK. Mr. Dediwela is a Member of the Advisory committee on Light Engineering Sector under EDB, Ministry of Industry & Commerce and holds Memberships of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and Sri Lanka Economic Association. He is a Council Member of the Foundry Development & Services Institute of Sri Lanka.
Managing Director – Alumex Group
Niran Ranatunga
Commenced a career in tea tasting in 1980 by joining John Keells Ltd. as an auctioneer and a tea broker. Subsequently was trained in tea tasting and blending at UK’s Lyons Tetley and R. Twinnings & Co. Ltd. Was a founder member of Mabroc Teas (Pvt) Ltd. in 1988 and was appointed Commercial Director in 1991, having undertaken the responsibilities of Marketing Bulk Tea and Branded Teas in numerous international markets. Was responsible for spearheading the initiative to launch an ethical tea brand of the world at the United Nations Global Compact. Was promoted as Managing Director of Mabroc Teas in 2014 and serves on the boards of Hayleys Plantation Services (Pvt) Ltd. and Kelani Valley Instant Tea (Pvt) Ltd. as well as serving on the Committee of Management of the Tea Exporters Association of Sri Lanka. Mr. Ranatunga was appointed to the Group Management Committee in July 2018.
Managing Director – Mabroc Group
Hasith Prematillake
Joined Hayleys Group in 2018 and was appointed to the Hayleys Group Management Committee in October 2018. Currently serves as the Managing Director of Fentons Limited and Unisyst Engineering PLC and its subsidiaries. Previously Mr. Prematillake served as the Country Director/General Manager of Ansell Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Industries Ltd. He also held a managerial position at Chevron Lubricants Lanka. He holds a Master of Business Administration Degree (Merit pass) from the University of Colombo where he was awarded the prestigious Dr. Linus Silva Medal for Best Overall Performance, B.Sc. Engineering Degree (Hon’s.) from University of Moratuwa ,Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Passed Finalist of CA Sri Lanka and a Graduate of the British Computer Society. He is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
Managing Director – Hayleys Fentons Limited
Mahesh Wijewardene
Mr. Mahesh Wijewardene was appointed to the Group Management Committee and also as an Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC and its subsidiary companies with effect from 1st November 2018. Mr. Wijewardene holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland and received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. He also holds a Diploma in General Management from the Open University of Sri Lanka. He served as the past Chairman of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce – Import section and Sri Lanka – China Business Council and currently serves in the Executive Council of Sri Lanka Retailers’ Association. He serves as a Director of Singer Industries (Ceylon) PLC, Singer Finance (Lanka) PLC, Regnis (Lanka) PLC, Regnis Appliances (Pvt) Limited, Singer Digital Media (Pvt) Limited, Singer Business School (Pvt) Limited, Reality Lanka Limited and Domus Lanka (Pvt) Limited.
Managing Director – Singer Group
Wasaba Jayasekera
Mr. Wasaba Jayasekera is Managing Director of both Hayleys Aventura (Pvt) Ltd and Hayleys Consumer Products Limited. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Science, from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayawardenapura. He also holds a diploma in Computer Systems & Design from the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM). He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and an Ordinary Life Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing.
Mr. Jayasekera counts extensive international and domestic experience in the areas of Marketing and Sales, Finance and Controlling, Business restructuring, Development and Planning and Information Technology & Systems.
Managing Director – Hayleys Aventura (Pvt) Ltd and Hayleys Consumer Products Limited
Rajeeve Goonetileke
Joined the Hayleys Group in September 2021 as Managing Director of the Eco Solutions Sector and was appointed to the Group Management Committee. Prior to joining the Group, he has served as the CEO of Brandix Apparel Solutions – Deep Discounter, as the Supply Chain Director of Glaxo Smithkline – Sri Lanka and as Country Head/ GM of MAS Fashionline in Vietnam. He holds a B.Sc. Eng (Mechanical) from the University of Moratuwa and a M.Eng – Industrial Engineering from the Asian Institute of Technology – Thailand.
Managing Director – Eco Solutions Sector
Pushpika Janadheera
Joined DPL in August 2017 as Director Operations. Appointed as Deputy Managing Director in August 2020. Responsible for the entire operations of Sri Lanka and Thailand manufacturing facilities.
Fellow Member of CA Sri Lanka. Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Managements Accountants (CIMA-UK), Associate member of Global Management Accountants (CGMA) of UK and the National Institute of Accountants of Australia. Holds B Sc Accountancy (special) degree and an MBA from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Former Director of Associated Motorways (Pvt) Ltd and Director/ General Manager of Richard Pieirs Tyre Co, Ltd. Vice President of Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers & Exporters of Rubber Products. Served as a council member of the Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka. Member of the Institute of Directors.
Managing Director – Hand Protection Sector
Milinda Hewagama
Mr. Hewagama is a skilled finance professional with over 16 years of diverse experience in Financial Management, Reporting, Budgeting, Financial Planning & Analysis. He commenced his career at KPMG in 2005, subsequently joining the Corporate Affairs Unit of Hayleys PLC in January 2010. He holds an MBA and Bachelor’s Degree in Specialised Finance from the University of Colombo, and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. He currently serves as a Director of Hayleys Group Services (Pvt) Ltd, Volanka Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Ltd, and Dean Foster (Pvt) Ltd.
Group Chief Financial Officer