SLIM appoints new President and ExCo

New Council of Management and Executive Committee

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) held its 50th Annual General Meeting on June 26th at Marino Beach Hotel, adhering to the health and safety guidelines given by the government. 

Roshan Fernando was officially elected as the new President and will spearhead the institute as its 42nd President in the 50th year. A new Council of Management as well as an Executive Committee were also elected at the meeting. 

Roshan Fernando has held several key positions at some of the most sought-after media stations in the country and contributed significantly to propel their growth momentum during his tenure. 

He is a member of SLIM as well as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)-UK, and holds a Diploma in Business Management, an Advanced Diploma in Business Management and an MBA from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysis University of India. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from SLIM. 

Roshan holds the titles of Certified Professional Marketer (Asia) and Practising Marketer conferred by the Asia Marketing Federation and SLIM respectively. Apart from chairing various project committees at SLIM, he has also held many honorary positions includingTreasurer, Secretary and Vice President of the Council of Management of SLIM. 

Roshan has served as a member of the Export Development Board Technical Evaluation Committee for India Market Entry Study for Sri Lankan Businesses and he has worked with many Small and Medium Enterprises, Women Entrepreneurship Development programmes and projects organized by the Industrial Development Board.
He holds the positions of the Head of the Steering Committee of the Derana SME Club established in collaboration with the Industrial Development Board, and is a Board Director of the SAARC Business Association of Home-Based Workers (SABAH-Sri Lanka). He is also a member of the professional Education Team in the Presidential Task Force on Sri Lanka’s Education Affairs.

Thilanka Abeywardena, CMO Lead – South East Asia New Markets, Microsoft Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd will be the Vice President – Projects, while, Nuwan Gamage, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications,  Arinma Holdings (Pvt) Ltd., will be holding the position Vice President- Education. Chinthaka Perera, Director Sales, Hemas Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd & Hemas Surgical and Diagnostics (Pvt) Ltd. and Gayan Perera, Senior Brand Manager, Singer Sri Lanka PLC were appointed as the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary respectively. Dr.Jayantha Dewasiri, Head of Field Force at HMD Global Incis the Treasurer for the year 2020/2021. 

The new Executive Committee consists of Manthika Ranasinghe - Head of Business Development (Global Shopping) at Kapruka.com,  SathikaWickramasinghe - Category Manager Insights & Velocity at Fonterra Brands Lanka, Dr.DilhanS. Jayatilleke - Head of Business Development & Marketing, Arogya Life Systems Lanka Private Limited and General Manager - Business Development, Marketing & Corporate Strategy, Softlidz Solutions Private Limited, Charaka Perera - Executive Director at Fuchsia Retail S.A. (Private) Limited, Nuwan Thilakawardhana - Manager Marketing at Union Bank, Asanka Perera - Chief Executive Officer at Arugambay Beachwear (Pvt) Ltd.,Niyas Mohamed Shiraz -Assistant General Manager Sales & Marketing at Fentons Limited, AselaC.

Gunasekara -Manager Brand Development at Metecno Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Channa Jayasinghe - Senior Manager - Brand Development atKelani Cables Plc and Dr.ThesaraJayawardane - Senior Lecturer and Director Business Research Unit at Faculty of Business, University of Moratuwa
The newly elected President Roshan Fernando expressed his gratitude to the members and Past Presidents for the confidence placed in him to lead the institute. He pledged to continue the good work initiated during the past years and to uplift the marketing fraternity of the country with new initiatives, strategic moves and activities. 

Commenting on his appointment, he stated, “With the new Council of Management and the Executive Committee, SLIM will continue its efforts in enhancing the marketing fraternity in the country by providing quality education to the future marketers of Sri Lanka and writing a golden chapter in the history of the institute during the new year themed ‘Celebrate the Past, Create the Future’. 

The establishment of SLIM Business School operations and paving the way for a Research Institute will be key initiatives for SLIM. We aim to reach greater heights in terms of broadening the horizons of the local marketing fraternity and contributing to the economic growth of the country through the Restart Sri Lanka national initiative. I firmly believe that 

the diverse and dynamic Council of Management and the Executive Committee together with a fully dedicated staff will further raise the bar of SLIM in the 50th year.”