Binesh Pananwala joins Kahawatte Plantations as CEO

Kahawatte Plantations Plc has announced the appointment of Binesh Pananwala as its new CEO with effect from 1 October 2023.

Prior to joining Kahawatte Plantations PLC, Pananwala was the Chief Executive Officer at Watawala Plantations PLC (until 30 September 2023) and Watawala Dairy Ltd of Sunshine Holdings Plc.

He currently holds the position of President All Island Dairy Association. He counts over 31 years’ experience in the plantation sector covering tea, rubber, dairy industry, oil palm industry and other export development crops.

Pananwala started his career as a Trainee Assistant Superintendent under the Janatha Estate Development Board in 1992 and then became theChief Executive Officer. He is a business development professional with an M.Sc. in Crop Science from the University of Peradeniya and an MBA from Manipal (Sikkim) University.

Kahawatte had been without a CEO following the retirement of Anura Gunasekera in May 2020 but operated with a Management Committee reporting to a Board Subcommittee comprising Directors Dilhan C Fernando, Himendra S Ranaweera and Minette Perera.