Dr. Lawrence Perera joins Richard Pieris Exports Board

Industrialist and automobile engineer Dr. Lawrence Perera has been appointed to the Board of Richard Pieris Exports PLC as a Non-Executive Independent Director. Dr. Perera is the Founder and Chairman of Micro Cars Ltd., the first company to assemble and manufacture automobiles in Sri Lanka with a patent. He serves as the Chairman/CEO of Micro Holdings Ltd., Micro Cars Ltd., Transmec International Ltd., Euro Sports Auto Lanka Ltd., and Superlative Properties Ltd.

An automobile engineer by profession, a Certificated Engineer (CAE) and A Fellow Member Institute of Motor Industry UK, (FIMI), Dr. Perera was also instrumental in setting up the BMW franchise in Colombo, obtaining the franchise rights for Alfa Romeo in Sri Lanka while also spearheading the resurgence of the SsangYong SUV brand and making it the market leader in 2010.

With 45 years of experience in the automobile and transportation Industry Sri Lanka as well as overseas, Dr. Perera has been involved in the evolution of brands such as VW, Mazda, Audi, Peugeot, Chrysler, Mitsubishi and Aston Martin. RENAULT Heavy commercials, SCANIA Trucks, HIGER and YUTONG Luxury Coaches. He successfully launched the MG, the iconic British brand in Sri Lanka market in 2018, which was again the market leader in year 2019, manufactured by SAIC Motors (Shanghai Automotive International Corporation), a Global Fortune 500 company.

Dr. Perera was awarded with the titles of “Deshmanya, Deshakirti and Janaranjana” in 2007, and has won the Best Innovation Award Micro, Best Innovation in Transport Business, Presidential Award First Place Transport Award, Outstanding Citizen of Sri Lanka, Asia Pacific Excellence in Entrepreneurship, CMI Management Excellence Awards were conferred. 

He served as a member of the Consultative Committee of the Central Bank Sri Lanka in 2020, served as a member of the Board of Investment in 2022 and was also appointed to the “Committee for the study on the Importation of motor vehicles” in 2023 Sri Lanka.

With the latest appointment, the Board of Richard Pieris Exports PLC comprises Dr. Sena Yaddehige (Chairman), W.J.V.P. Perera, Shaminda Yaddehige, L.M.K. Tillekeratne, L.C. Wijeyesinghe, and M.A.L.N.J. Perera.