Globinar Global Chamber® Opportunities in Sri Lanka
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Tuesday, April 1st at 4pm Sri Lanka / 3:30am PT / 6:30am ET / 10:30am Accra / 11:30am London / 12:30pm CET / 1:30pm Tel Aviv + Kiev + Nairobi / 2:30pm Dubai / 4pm Mumbai / 6:30pm Singapore / 7:30pm Seoul + Tokyo / 9:30pm Sydney
We're discussing trade opportunities with Sri Lanka.- Ceylon Tea: Mr. Jayantha Karunaratne, Managing Director, IMPERIAL TEAS (Pvt) Ltd
- Apparel and Textiles: Mr. Sami Bandara, Director, Textile Lanka (Pvt) Ltd
- Rubber and Rubber-based Products: Mr. Dilshan Rajapaksa, Director, D. Samson Industries
- Coconut and Coconut-based Products: Mr. Indika Perera, MD – Wichy Plantation Co
- ICT/BPO: to be announced
Speakers:
Kaushal Rajapaksha- President of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri LankaHe is the Chairman of the Polymer Advisory Council, of the Ministry Industries, President of The Management Club, Chairman of the Chamber of Marine Industries, Vice President of the National Chamber of Exporters, Vice President of the Confederation for Small and Medium Scale Industries (COSMI), He is the Past President of the Plastics and Rubber Institute, Past President of the Chartered Management Institute, UK - Sri Lanka Branch
He is also the President of the Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council an Executive Committee Member of the Sri Lanka China Business Council and Vice President of Sri Lanka Singapore Business Council.
Indhra Kaushal is a Plastics and Rubber Institute Fellow and an Associate Member of the Association of Business Executives UK holding an MBA in Business Management from the Vinayaka Mission University of India.
He is also the Director of the Suwa Arana trust.
Indhra Kaushal possesses a wealth of experience in the Private Sector working for the tire industry, footwear industry, and the Government Sector under the Presidential secretariat at the Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation handling the livelihood development of the people affected by the Tsunami in 2004
Since 2003, Lion Kaushal has been engaged in his own business of exporting industrial waste namely as the Chairman /Group MD of Kalhari Group of Companies while engaging as the Group Managing Director of Sea Leisure Yachting Group which manufactures, Charters, and exports luxury yachts.
Lion Indhra Kaushal is married to Lion Shiranee who was a senior Banker.
Doug Bruhnke - Founder/CEO at Global Chamber
Doug is a global entrepreneur, speaker and author dedicated to helping members of Global Chamber® reach new markets across metros and borders more successfully. In addition we have the opportunity of attracting more leaders to global business, making our world a better place. He's the Founder/CEO of Global Chamber®, operating in 525 metros, 195 countries. He's had a career with DuPont that included expat assignments in Tokyo and Singapore.
Doug has a B.S. Chemical Engineering from University of Utah, with 5 chemical process patents. He also has an Executive MBA Michigan State with 38 years of exporting and global trade experience.
Dilshan Rajapaksa - Director at D. Samson Industries (Pvt) LtdSkills & Experience
He Joined DSI Group in 2006 and has been working as the Marketing Director of Many DSI Clusters Spanning Across Footwear, Rubber Products, Coir Products, and Clay Products bringing Local/Export Revenue to the group.
He is the creator and the brain behind the concept of “Waves” flip flops, the market leader in Flip Flops in Sri Lanka, and has a global footprint of over 10 countries.
He has also initiated many successful brands spanning various product sectors and launched them into the market in the local and international arena.
He has more than 18 years of Marketing, Management & Information Technology experience in both local and overseas Companies.
He is a Chartered Marketer and holds an M.Sc. in Business Systems from the University of Monash, Australia, and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Information Systems from the University of Manchester Metropolitan, UK, and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing – UK (MCIM).
Jayantha Karunaratne - Managing Director at IMPERIAL TEAS (Pvt) LtdMr. Karunaratne is the founder, Chairman and Managing Director of the Imperial Teas Group commenced business in 1994. His 40+ years of experience in the tea trade began in 1977 when he served as a Tea Taster at a leading tea export company in Sri Lanka. Extensive travel has given him an in depth knowledge of overseas markets and trading concepts and methodologies.
He is the immediate Past Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders Association and it is during his tenure as Chairman of CTTA that Mr. Karunaratne headed and facilitated the transition from an outcry auction system to an e-Auction due to the severe implications caused on the tea industry from the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023 the Colombo Tea Traders' Association awarded Mr. Karunaratne an Honorary Membership for the contribution made to the tea industry in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Karunaratne is also a Past President of the Tea Exporters’ Association and was appointed as the President of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka on the 14th of March 2023. He was a Board Member of the Sri Lanka Tea Board and a member of the promotion and marketing committee of the SLTB, former President of the Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council (SLRBC). Mr. Karunaratne also serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Tea, Value Added Tea, Beverages and related industries Sector of the Ministry of Industries.
Sami moved to the UK at the age of 17, where he completed his final years of schooling before pursuing higher education at the University of Manchester. He earned a BSc (Hons) in Clothing Technology and Management and a Master of Enterprise (MEnt) in Textiles and Fashion, equipping him with a unique blend of technical knowledge, business acumen, and innovation driven problem solving skills.
To further enhance his expertise, Sami attended the University of Cambridge’s Enterprise Tuesday programme at the Judge Business School, where he gained valuable insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, and business leadership through lectures and networking sessions with industry leaders. He also completed a specialised programme in Search and Social Media Marketing at the University of Salford, deepening his understanding of digital strategy, online brand management, and search engine optimisation techniques.
He began his career as a Design Engineer in R&D for a global leader in survival solutions, specialising in life saving equipment for the defence, aerospace, and marine sectors. After 20 years in the UK, he returned to Sri Lanka in 2019, joined the family run business, TexStyle Lanka Exports (Pvt) Ltd, a BOI approved company, where he now serves as a Director. Leveraging his international experience, he has modernised operations, strengthened client partnerships, and aligned the company with global industry standards.
Beyond his contributions to TexStyle Lanka, Sami is actively involved in industry development and trade representation. After serving as a Council Member for several years, he was invited to join the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) Management Committee as Assistant Secretary in 2023. In March 2025, he was appointed Secretary of the NCE where he now plays a role in shaping policy discussions, advocating for export sector growth, and supporting initiatives to enhance Sri Lanka’s competitiveness in global markets.
Mr. Indika Perera - Managing Director –Plantation Cluster at Wichy Plantation Co Pvt Ltd
Indika Perera is an accomplished business leader with a strong vision for driving organizational excellence and sustainable growth. With expertise in business turnaround, manufacturing excellence, and strategic leadership, he has successfully led companies through transformative change. His ability to develop and execute corporate and functional strategies has enabled organizations to optimize costs, enhance operational efficiency, and achieve long
term profitability. Recognized for his strong leadership, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills, Indika excels in high-pressure environments, delivering tangible results through innovation and process improvement.
Currently serving as the Group CEO and Main Board Director at Wichy Plantation, Wichy Beverages, and Emerging Business, Indika holds direct responsibility for the group’s overall P&L. He plays a pivotal role in implementing strategic initiatives, securing funding mechanisms, and driving technical advancements across multiple business verticals. His leadership focuses on expanding the company’s market presence, developing new business opportunities, and ensuring sustainable growth through operational excellence.
Previously, Indika held several leadership positions, including Group CEO of Wichy Plantation and Wichy Beverages, CEO of Wichy Plantation, and Deputy Managing Director/CEO of Hayleys Eco Solutions Sector. Throughout his career, he has successfully restructured and diversified businesses, introduced performance-driven cultures, and expanded operations into new geographical markets. His tenure at Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka saw him leading the supply chain function to achieve industry-leading manufacturing and quality standards, while also implementing sustainability initiatives that positioned the Sri Lankan plant as a regional benchmark.
Indika holds a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Management from the University of Colombo and a background in Chemical Engineering Technology from the University of Moratuwa. He has also completed executive development programs at prestigious institutions, including the Coca-Cola Supply Chain Excellence Program at Georgia Tech University in the USA and the Coca-Cola SABCO Executive Development Programme at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. His commitment to continuous learning and professional development has contributed significantly to his ability to navigate complex business landscapes.
Over the years, Indika has achieved remarkable business turnarounds, transforming loss-making enterprises into highly profitable ventures. His strategic initiatives have resulted in multi-million-dollar profit growth, successful global expansions, and the introduction of internationally recognized brands such as “Spring Wall” in the mattress industry. His leadership philosophy is centered on fostering innovation, driving efficiency, and creating high-performance teams that contribute to organizational success.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Indika is passionate about mentoring and sharing knowledge. He has lectured on Supply Chain Management for Master’s students at the University of Colombo.
Indika Perera is a visionary leader committed to driving business excellence, fostering innovation, and empowering teams to achieve sustainable success in a dynamic global landscape.
About Global Chamber
Global Chamber® is a diverse, innovative and positive worldwide platform for CEOs, executives, investors and industry leaders across 195 countries and 525 regions around the world to find opportunities and effectively empower growth, success and progress. We're the only chamber of commerce operating in hundreds of locations that delivers strategic connections, information and resources to facilitate exporting, importing and investing across regions and borders, while addressing climate change and advancing sustainability. Be global and UNSTOPPABLE! Global Chamber® is a registered trademark of Global Chamber, LLC since 2014.
About National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE)
In 1986 The National Exporters Association (NEA) was established to support the exporters of Sri Lanka. In 1994 it was incorporated as The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) becoming the only trade Chamber in Sri Lanka serving exclusively to the Export Sector. The Membership of the Chamber is open to all exporters of products & services and suppliers of products and services to the export industry.
The Membership of the Chamber represents leading exporters of all product and service sectors in Sri Lanka. They range from different scales, Large to Small export-oriented enterprises. The Chamber services are primarily focused on its Members to promote and sustain international markets share and be global brand leaders. Due to this commitment and working towards archiving goals of the Membership the Chamber is nationally identified as ‘VOICE OF THE EXPORTER’.
