New COYLE Chief Kasun Rajapaksa promises to navigate towards future

The Chamber of Young Sri Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) appointed Kasun Rajapaksa as their new Chairman at the 17th AGM held this month.  

Kasun takes the reins from Navein Perera, who served from 2015 to 2016. The AGM was followed by a ceremonial event held at the Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand in Colombo. 

The Chief Guest at this glittering event was President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, along with ministers and members of parliament, secretaries, members of the diplomatic community and COYLE members.

Kasun Rajapaksa is the Managing Director of D. Samson Industries and Samson Compounds as well as Group Director of DSI Samson Group, a family owned business conglomerate. Kasun has over 15 years of industry experience and carries the family business into its third generation. He is also a fellow member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors and a Board member of the Advisory Committee of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board. 

Speaking at the event, Maithripala Sirisena said, “I am proud to be present at my first COYLE event and I wish the membership many more successful years ahead. I ask all of you to not just see this as a success in your personal journeys but think of how you can make this blessed country even better. I have faced challenges in my year in office, and likewise the private sector has also faced challenges. But we can overcome these challenges if we work together.” 

Outgoing Chairman Navein Perera and the incoming Chairman Kasun Rajapakse handed over a memento to President Sirisena.

Navein Perera, speaking at the podium said, “It has been an honour for me to hold this post. It has been a year of challenges but we, as a Chamber have moved forward towards growth in the interest of the new government.” Whilst thanking his outgoing committee and members for all the support given to him during his year in office, Navein welcomed the new chairman, Kasun to take their vision and mission to greater heights.

After the ceremonial handing over of the chairman’s scroll, Kasun addressed the audience and Chamber as its new chairman. “Our Chamber is responsible for contributing Rs. 600 billion towards the national GDP while providing direct employment to over 200,000 employees. Apart from all of these, it is our pride in our country that drives us to this success. We will heed our President’s words of encouragement and vision for this nation and work towards the goal of achieving best country in Asia.” He went on to say that the entire Chamber is Sri Lankan in every aspect and their business successes are on local and global level.

The vision for COYLE in the coming year is ‘A future built upon a glorious heritage’ with the entire event focused upon the majestic Sigiriya Rock that recognises our nation’s great past and unparalleled accomplishments. 

With a prime focus on active involvement through dialogue, discussions and representations to create a business-friendly environment in this country, COYLE has a vast and ambidextrous membership across verticals adding value to the nation’s growth. Over the calendar year, COYLE will engage in various projects both locally and internationally, by facilitating innovative partnerships to build a more sustainable and equitable national economy.