Upul Adikari appointed SLIM President for 2016/17 at 46th AGM

Seated from left: Sanath Senanayake, Suranjith Swaris, Elangovan Karthik, Upul Adikari, Pradeep Edward, Roshan Fernando, Thilanka Abeywardena and Ruwan Liyanagamage. Standing from left: Leonard Jayasinghe, Ravindra De Coonghe, Nuwan Hewa Gamage, Shaminda Perera, Ranga Perera, Manjula Dahanayake, Manthika Ranasinghe, Enoch Perera, Amal Perera and Lakshitha Wijesinghe

The 46th Annual General Meeting of Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) took place on 30 March at The Kingsbury Hotel and saw the appointment of Upul Adikari as its 38th President, along with the Council of Management and Executive Committee.

The Council of Management for 2016/17 consists of prominent figures in the marketing field such as President Upul Adikari, who serves as Senior Manager – Marketing and Communications at Hatton National Bank PLC, Vice President Elangovan Karthik, who is Director/CEO of Unisons Capital Leasing (subsidiary of CDB), Vice President Pradeep Edward, CEO of Richardson Projects Ltd. and Richardson Electric Ltd., Secretary Suranjith Swaris, Sales and Marketing Manager of Coats Thread Exports, Treasurer Roshan Fernando, Head of Marketing at Power House Ltd. (FM Derana) and Asst. Secretary Thilanka Abeywardena, Enterprise Marketing Manager – South East Asia New Markets at Microsoft Sri Lanka.

The Executive Committee for 2016/17 includes experienced marketers such as Ranga Perera, Asst. General Manager – Marketing at Ceylon News Papers Ltd., Shaminda Perera, Senior Brand Manager at Reckitt Benckiser Lanka Ltd., Manthika Ranasinghe, Managing Partner at Marketing Cubez – Business Consultancy Service, Leonard Jayasinghe, National Sales Manager at Sinwa Marketing Ltd., Manjula Dahanayake, Head of Key Accounts and Modern Trade at Nestle Lanka PLC, Nuwan Hewa Gamage, General Manager – Marketing at 4ever Skin Naturals Ltd., Lakshitha Wijesinghe, Senior Brand Manager at Dialog Axiata PLC, Amal Perera, National Head of Strategic Business at ID Lanka Ltd., Ravindra De Coonghe, Director Sales at J. L. Morison Son & Jones (Ceylon ) PLC and Enoch Perera, Senior Manager Marketing – Exports at Piramal Glass Ceylon PLC.

SLIM has a proud history of 46 years of promoting marketing excellence and elevating the status of marketing in Sri Lanka. A total of 37 marketers have dilligently served the Institute in the capacity of President since its inception.

President Upul Adikari took over from Immediate Past President Ruwan Liyanagamage, and in his inaugural address as the 38th SLIM President stated: “I am honoured to be taking on this prestigious position as the President of the national body for marketing in Sri Lanka. I will strive to continue the good work carried out by our past presidents and pledge to work under the theme of ‘Change for Time’. We have all heard the phrase ‘time for change’, but I will focus on ‘Change for Time’ in order to change according to the needs of this dynamic and evolving industry and stay a step ahead of the curve. I am confident that the new Council and Executive Committee will serve the institute to their fullest abilities and support me to achieve this change.”

SLIM CEO/Executive Director Sanath Senanayake stated, “SLIM has successfully achieved its goals during the past years, and I am confident that we will reach greatness under the leadership of Mr. Upul Adikari, with the backing of the highly capable members of the Council of Management and Executive Committee.”

In his address, SLIM Immediate Past President Ruwan Liyanagamage said: “A wonderful journey has come to an end for me and I would like to thank all those who helped and supported me during my tenure.I congratulate Mr. Upul Adikari on his appointment, and wish him all the very best in taking this great institute towards the great change that he has envisioned.”

SLIM is the national body for marketing and offers the most sought after proprietary degree and diploma programmes in the fields of marketing and sales. Its calendar includes premier annual events such as SLIM Brand Excellence, Effie Awards, People’s Awards and NASCO. Fulfilling its mandate of developing marketing in Sri Lanka, SLIM also offers over 20 development programs in areas such as sales, marketing and management with reputed trainers and innovative training methodologies. 

SLIM is a member of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) and Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL). Internationally it is affiliated with ESOMAR, the Federation of Marketing Research Industries and is a member of the Asia Marketing Federation, which is affiliated to the World Marketing Association.