Business

CL Synergy announces new board ahead of IPO

Published

5 years ago

2022/03/6

From Left to Right; Mr. Anuradha Sooriyaarachchi (Executive Director), Mr. Udara Widanagamage (Executive Director), Mr. Roshan Silva (Managing Director), Mr. Janaka Udamulla (Director – Finance), Mr. Sanjaya Bandara (Non-Executive Director), Mr. Dharma Dheerasinghe (Chairman), Mrs. Shehani Kulatunga (Executive Director), Mr. Thilan Wijesinghe (Non- Executive Director), Mr. Nirosh De Silva (Non-Executive Director)

Leading digitally-enabled freight forwarding solutions provider with a global footprint, CL Synergy, has announced the appointment of six members to its Board of Directors.

The announcement comes as the Company completes its transition from a Private Limited Liability company into a Public Limited Liability company, in preparation for an expansion plan, which will include an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and listing of its shares, once the necessary approvals are obtained. The new Directors will add value by bringing in a wealth of experience and expertise to guide the Company, as it embarks on the next phase of its growth journey, a CLS news release said.

The new additions to the Board of Directors of CL Synergy Limited include Mr. Dharma Dheerasinghe, who will serve as Chairman, Messrs. Nirosh De Silva, Thilan Wijesinghe and Sanjaya Bandara, who will serve as Independent/Non-Executive Directors and Udara Widanagamage and Anuradha Sooriyaarachchi, who will serve as Executive Directors.

“All of these individuals are veterans and leaders in their respective fields,” the release said.

The new appointments complete CL Synergy’s Board of Directors, which also includes its Managing Director/Co-Founder Roshan Silva, Director – Finance/Co-Founder Janaka Udamulla and Director Shehani Kulatunga, all of whom have been with the Company since its inception 17 years ago.

Mr. Dharma Dheerasinghe, having built a banking career in both in the public and private sectors was Chairman of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, while also having previously served as the Deputy Governor and Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka having also functioned as an Alternate Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He holds both a Master’s Degree and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Leeds and the University of Colombo, respectively.

Mr. Nirosh De Silva is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a BA in Economics and Business Management from Franklin and Marshall College, and is presently the Managing Partner at Horizon Partners Limited. Previously, he has served as a Senior Manager at Ayojana Fund Management, and at Hatton National Bank PLC. Mr. De Silva has a wealth of experience in private equity and corporate finance.

Mr. Thilan Wijesinghe is a prominent investment banker, a specialist in public-private partnerships (PPP) and an entrepreneur. A well-known figure in the world of business, Mr. Wijesinghe holds three bachelor’s degrees, in Industrial Engineering, Economics and Business Administration. He is a specialist in investment banking and real estate. He is presently the Chairman and CEO of TWCorp (Private) Limited, the Chairman of Sapphirus Lanka (Private) Limited, and a Director at both Ceylon Tea Trails (Private) Limited and MJF Leisure (Private) Limited.

Mr. Sanjaya Bandara holds a BSc in Accountancy & Financial Management from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Colombo. He is presently the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, a Director at Prime Land Residencies PLC, a Partner at B R De Silva and Co. and serves as a Board Member of both the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants and the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board.

Mr. Udara Widanagamage is a marketer and Logistics & supply chain expert. He has also served as a Director of CL Synergy (Private) Limited, a role which he is now continuing in his new capacity at CL Synergy Limited. Mr. Widanagamage holds an MBA from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and is Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, Australia (CMA), qualified.

Mr. Anuradha Sooriyaarachchi has served as Director – Procurement & Business Development at CL Synergy (Private) Limited, a role which he is now extending in his new capacity at CL Synergy Limited. Mr. Sooriyaarachchi has also served as General Manager and Deputy General Manager at CL Synergy (Private) Limited. He has also functioned in roles such as Manager Sales (Sri Lanka/Maldives) at APL Lanka (Private) Limited and Senior Executive at Maersk Logistics Lanka (Private) Limited. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers. Anuradha’s contributions towards the development of the industry saw him being appointed as a member of the Logistics Advisory Committee to the Export Development Board (EDB) by the Minister of Trade, with effect from July 2021.

CL Synergy Limited was incorporated as CL Synergy (Private) Limited in 2004 as a fully-fledged freight forwarding company. The Company’s objective is to provide professional, reliable and high-quality services. The Company prides itself on providing customers with a personalized atmosphere, flexibility, highly competitive pricing and efficient servicing. CL Synergy has diversified its activities under a set of Associate companies which include fleet management, software solutions and Investments, along with other innovative ventures in the pipeline.

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Business

SLEIS 2026 to examine how Sri Lanka can strengthen its place in Asia’s growth networks

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ambassador Akio ISOMATA / Chathuranga Abeysinghe / P.D. Singh

As Asia continues to account for a growing share of global economic activity, Sri Lanka faces an important opportunity to strengthen its links with regional trade networks, supply chains and economic corridors. How the country can make better use of these connections to attract investment, expand trade and strengthen its position in regional value chains will be among the key questions at the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026, organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 12-13 October 2026.

Titled “Linking Sri Lanka to Asia’s Growth Networks: Trade, Corridors, and Value Chains,” the session will examine the opportunities for Sri Lanka to deepen its integration with the wider Asian economy and build stronger connections with regional and global markets.

The session keynote will be delivered by P.D Singh – Chief Executive Officer, India and South Asia, Standard Chartered Bank. He will be joined for a panel discussion by Chathuranga Abeysinghe – Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Akio ISOMATA – Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, MASAAKI Kawabata – Chairman – Toyota Lanka (Private) Limited, and Ravi Jayawardena – Group Chief Executive Officer-Maliban Biscuits (Private) Limited. The session will be moderated by Ms. Subhashini Abeysinghe – Research Director- Verité Research.

For Sri Lanka, stronger regional integration can open opportunities beyond traditional export markets. Greater participation in regional supply chains, improved trade connectivity and closer links to economic corridors can support investment in areas such as logistics, manufacturing, export services and other sectors connected to international production networks.

The discussion will consider what Sri Lanka needs to do to strengthen its position within these networks, including improving trade connectivity, attracting investment and creating a business environment that enables companies to participate more effectively in regional and global value chains.

It will also look at the experience of businesses and international institutions operating across the region, providing perspectives on how companies assess markets, build supply chains and identify locations for investment. With supply chains and investment flows increasingly shaped by regional connectivity, the session will also consider the partnerships and strategies needed to position Sri Lanka as a more competitive participant in Asia’s growth networks, while creating opportunities for trade, investment, innovation and economic growth.

The session will form part of the second day of SLEIS 2026, held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy.”

The Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 is supported by its valued sponsors and partners. Platinum Sponsor – Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, Gold Sponsor – VISA Worldwide (Pvt) Ltd., Bronze Sponsor – South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd., Strategic Development Partner – Asian Development Bank, Telecommunication Partner – Dialog Telecommunication, Television Partner – Dialog Television, Session Sponsors – David Pieris Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd., Hemas Holdings PLC, Sunshine Holdings PLC, International Construction Consortium (Pvt) Ltd., Official Logistics Partner – Hayleys Advantis Limited, Official Airline – SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Official Hospitality Partner – Shangri-La Colombo, Airline Partner – China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd.

Registrations are now open at https://sleis.chamber.lk/. For more information, contact Alikie on 011 558 8805 (alikie@chamber.lk) or Shanuka on 0701082541 (events.division@chamber.lk).

Business

AAC launches seat belt safety awareness initiative with RDA Colombo

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC), in collaboration with the Road Development Authority (RDA) and Police – Traffic Division, will conduct a special Road Safety Awareness Programme to promote the importance of wearing seat belts in vehicles specially on the express highways in order to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.

The official handing-over ceremony took place at the Chairman’s Office of the Road Development Authority on 14th September 2026, where specially designed Seat Belt Safety Hanging Tags & Stickers prepared by the Automobile Association of Ceylon were handed over to the RDA for distribution to motorists at entry points to the expressways.

The initiative is being conducted in connection with the seat belt law coming into effect on 19th September 2026 and is intended to create greater public awareness of the importance of wearing seat belts in both the front and rear seats of vehicles.

Representing the Automobile Association of Ceylon at the ceremony Dhammika Attygalle, President; Prasanna De Zoysa, Sectional Chairman – Road Safety; and Devapriya Hettiarachchi, Secretary, Senior Superintendent of Police -Traffic Sisira Peththrathanthri, participated in the programme.

The Automobile Association of Ceylon has consistently maintained that road safety is one of its foremost priorities. Through awareness campaigns, educational programmes and collaboration with government authorities and other stakeholders, the Association continues to encourage responsible driving and safer behaviour among all road users.

AAC believes that the proper use of seat belts, including by rear-seat passengers, is a simple but vital safety measure that can help reduce serious injuries and save lives in the event of a road crash.

The programme further strengthens the cooperation between the Automobile Association of Ceylon, the Road Development Authority and the Police in their shared commitment towards safer roads and saving lives in Sri Lanka.

Business

Sanath Jayasuriya as Brand Ambassador

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mr. Dasun Wickramarathna, Chairman Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd with Sanath Jayasuriya, World Renown Personality & Brand Ambassador

Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd (GHR) has announced a landmark partnership with Sri Lankan cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya, as its Brand Ambassador as GHR enters a new chapter in its journey within Sri Lanka’s luxury real estate sector.

The partnership was officially unveiled at a press conference held at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, on 14 September 2026, bringing together industry leaders, investors and members of the media under the theme “Two Gamechangers, A New Beginning.”

The collaboration brings together two names associated with challenging convention in their respective fields: Sanath Jayasuriya, whose fearless approach transformed the dynamics of international cricket, and GHR, which has sought to introduce new approaches to property investment and luxury living in Sri Lanka.

Over the past two decades, GHR has built its presence in Sri Lanka’s real estate sector with a focus on quality, structural integrity and long-term investment value.

A significant milestone in the company’s journey came in 2016, when GHR introduced the hotel residency concept to the Sri Lankan market. The model brought together luxury hospitality and real estate investment, creating opportunities for property ownership with the potential to generate investment returns while contributing to the growth of the country’s high-end tourism offering. GHR has since continued to expand its portfolio across key destinations in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the announcement, Dasun Wickramarathna, Chairman of Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd, said, “For over twenty years, Global Housing & Real Estate has strived to push the boundaries of what property development can achieve in Sri Lanka. As pioneers who introduced the hotel residency concept back in 2016, our mission has always been clear: to provide high-yield investment opportunities for our clients while taking Sri Lanka’s condominium industry into a new frontier.”

Commenting on the decision to partner with Sanath Jayasuriya, he added, “When looking for a voice to represent GHR’s ethos, Sanath Jayasuriya was the natural choice. Just as Sanath disrupted traditional international cricket and redefined how the world viewed the opening overs, GHR challenged traditional approaches to real estate and established a new benchmark in luxury living. This partnership represents a true convergence; Two Gamechangers, A New Beginning.”