Business
Eswaran Brothers – A Board poised for governance and growth
COLOMBO; Top regional financial services expert Aruni Goonetilleke has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Eswaran Brothers, further strengthening an eminent team at the helm of affairs at the company. Eswaran Brothers which has been a leader in the value added tea industry for over sixty years, is at the forefront of innovation in the industry.
The Board of Directors of Eswaran Brothers lead by Non-Executive Chairman and well known corporate strategy expert, Dr. Nalin Jayasuriya, boasts of a power packed team that includes Yudhistran Kanagasabai, Independent Non-Executive Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee of Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC and Chairman, Ambeon Capital PLC , Gabriel D’Arcy, Independent Non-Executive Director, Senior VP at Stratagem Partners – a leading European Corporate Strategy and Brexit Advisory Service Provider and Mr. Hanif Janoo a well-known global Tea industry stalwart from Pakistan and Kenya.
To this stellar team a recent addition was top regional financial services expert Aruni Goonetilleke who joined the board back in June 2021. Aruni Goonetilleke, subsequently appointed as Chairperson of Hatton National Bank PLC, is also a Director at Sunshine Holdings PLC. Further, she holds the position of Non-Executive Director at several other listed companies.
Speaking on her appointment, Ms. Goonetilleke said, “I’m happy to be part of the Board of Eswaran Brothers – one of the leading value-added tea exporting companies in Sri Lanka. At a time when the world navigates many challenges, Eswaran Brothers is embarking on an impressive programme of diversification and growth. I look forward to being a part of the leadership of the company as it steps forward in new directions.”
Ms. Goonetilleke who did her Bachelors in Law at the University of Colombo, completed her Masters in Law at Harvard Law School, USA. She was previously the Head of Corporate Banking at People’s Bank. In her 25-years as a financial services professional she has worked in banks in Sri Lanka and Singapore. She was the Chief Risk Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, Sri Lanka and played a key role at the time of the merger of ANZ Grindlays and Standard Chartered Bank in Sri Lanka. She was also the Head of Credit, SME and Commercial Banking and held Global Audit Roles in Wholesale and Retail Banking at Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore.
As one of the premier marketers of Ceylon Tea, Eswaran Brothers works with some of the world’s leading tea brands, helping them meet their customer needs with the supply of high-quality Ceylon Tea. With over six decades of experience, this combination of versatility and customer satisfaction has made Eswaran Brothers Tea the choice source for fine teas and wellness beverages.
“Corporate governance and growth oriented independent directors have been part of the Eswaran Brothers board for nearly a decade. Following the directions set by our Past Chairman, the late Mr. D Eassuwaren, Eswaran Brothers became the first Carbon Neutral Certified tea company in the world and we are now ready to make some big moves as a corporate entity,” said Executive Chairman, Ganesh Deivanayagam. “With Aruni joining the Board, we intend to strengthen our financial oversight to further drive the company’s diversification and consolidation.”
Business
President briefs Sri Lankan delegation leaving for tariff related discussions in Washington
A Sri Lankan delegation is set to participate in discussions in Washington, D.C., focusing on tariff-related matters, following an invitation extended by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This is the second in-person meeting aimed at ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral trade relations between the two nations.
This initiative builds on several prior virtual interactions held between the USTR and Sri Lankan officials, and underscores a commitment to deepening economic ties. The upcoming talks are anticipated to explore avenues for enhancing trade cooperation and securing favourable outcomes for Sri Lanka, in light of current economic priorities.
Ahead of the visit, a high-level meeting was convened today under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake to ensure the country’s interests are well represented. The discussion focused on aligning the delegation’s approach with Sri Lanka’s broader economic strategy, ensuring the best possible outcomes from the upcoming discussions.
Key participants at the meeting included Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma; Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, K.A. Vimalenthirarajah; Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Economic Advisor to the President; Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development K.M.M. Siriwardana; Nirmal Vigneshwaran, representing the Attorney General’s Department; and Dharshana Perera from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Details of the discussions in Washington are expected to be made available following the conclusion of the meetings.
[PMD]
Sri Lanka’s largest tourism exhibition, “Tourism Renaissance 2025” (Sancharaka Udawa 2025), was inaugurated on Friday (23) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Organized jointly by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), this event brings together key stakeholders across the tourism industry. It offers a valuable platform for small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as individuals aspiring to enter the tourism sector, to connect with market opportunities and showcase their products and services.
The two-day exhibition, which ends on Saturday [24], features 250 trade stalls and includes participation from a wide range of sectors such as hotels, tour operators, airlines, service providers and educational institutions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated that the government has declared 2025 the “Year of Tourism Renaissance,” with plans to generate USD 5 billion in revenue from the tourism sector by the end of the year.
Also in attendance at the opening ceremony were Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, SLAITO Chairman Nalin Jayasundara, SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam and a distinguished group of invitees including the Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity with a vibrant national event at the Popam Arboretum in Dambulla, centering on the theme “Be part of the Plan.” The celebration, attended by students, researchers, community members, and officials, was led by Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, who emphasized the country’s commitment to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister Patabendi said, “As a government, we are committed to taking every possible step to protect our ecosystems and biodiversity. But this is not the responsibility of the government alone. It is a shared responsibility—one that requires the active participation of every citizen.”
The event highlighted the value of community involvement in conservation and featured a series of exhibitions and talks focused on sustainable tourism, traditional food systems, and environmental education. Locally sourced underutilized fruits and indigenous foods were displayed and shared by communities, underscoring the deep ties between biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
The celebration also featured two major guest lectures. Professor Cyril Wijesundara spoke on the current status of biodiversity in Sri Lanka, while Professor Gamini Pushpakumara presented on the promotion of underutilized food crops—a key element in ensuring food security and sustainability in the face of climate change.
“This is more than a celebration,” Minister Patabendi told journalists at the event. “It’s a reminder that sustainable development must go hand-in-hand with nature. We need to build our future with the forest, not against it.”
By Ifham Nizam
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