Lalith to lead SLT as new Group CEO

Tuesday, 12 February 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Telecom, the national telecommunications provider, announced the appointment of Lalith De Silva as the new Group Chief Executive Officer with effect from 7 February 2013. De Silva’s position as the Group CEO will see him overlooking the SLT Group Companies excluding Mobitel Ltd.

Commenting on his appointment to one of the most coveted and respected positions in Sri Lanka’s corporate sector, De Silva said: “I am delighted to serve my country as the first local CEO, post-privatisation in 1997, of our nation’s most trusted flagship telecommunication provider."

"I am committed to adding immense value in my new role to better serve my country and the ICT industry. SLT is perhaps one of the most dynamic and innovative companies in Sri Lanka and I am enthused by the challenge of taking it to the next level," De Silva added.

A veteran in IT and telecommunications, De Silva has held the position of CEO of Mobitel since 2011 and has also functioned as Director/CEO of Mobitel subsequent to Mobitel’s acquisition by SLT in 2002.

He also served as an Advisor to the Chairman of SLT from 2002 to 2004 and thus possesses a deep knowledge of the group’s operations. De Silva is ideally positioned to chart the future course of one of Sri Lanka’s most valued brands going ahead.

De Silva also said: "The company’s 150-year-old heritage reflects its deep roots amongst the people of this nation and we hope to thank the people and our partners for their trust and loyalty by rolling out some path-breaking ICT innovations in the near future to enrich their lives and businesses even further. I hope to build and add value to the good work that the former CEO of SLT started and I am cognisant of the extremely dynamic and experienced team SLT possesses. We will work together to consolidate the SLT Group’s premier position in Sri Lanka.”

The experienced telecommunications professional brings with him three decades of extensive international private sector experience in telecommunications and other business industries. His wide-ranging experience has been garnered at IBM in Sri Lanka and Australia and at Saudi Telecom. In the past he has functioned as an advisor to SLT, a Consultant/Board Director at SriLankan Airlines and a Senior Advisor at Saudi Telecom.

De Silva also has the distinction of being the Founder Chairman and President/Chairman of the Project Management Institute of the Sri Lankan Chapter from 2004 to 2009. A graduate in electronics and telecommunications engineering, he is also a Fellow Member of the Institute of Management Consultants, UK.