Sanjika Perera joins Serendib Leisure

Serendib Leisure announced the strategic appointment of Sanjika Perera as Director – Projects and Business Development for the group’s hotels with effect from 9 January 2012.

An accomplished Chartered Marketer and FCIM, Perera brings a wealth of experience in sales and marketing expertise earned in Sri Lanka and abroad, namely the United Kingdom.

As Director –Projects, he will spearhead the Serendib Leisure Group’s ambitious refurbishment and expansion plans.

His past track record reflects a dynamic career progression in diverse sectors such as FMCG, retail, B2B and services sector, branding, marketing and general management experience in South Asia and Western Europe.

He has a career spanning 17 years career with local conglomerates such as Browns Group, Hayleys Group and joined HSBC Sri Lanka where he went on to become Head of Sales – Personal Banking. He was appointed Country Manager – Sri Lanka and Maldives for Kodak Singapore PTE Ltd. in 2005. At this point in his career, Sanjika Perera made a decisive entry into the field of hospitality in 2008 as Director – UK and Ireland for Sri Lanka Tourism. Under his dynamic leadership, Sri Lanka Tourism UK won the CIM UK Marketing Excellence Awards 2010 in the hotels/ leisure/tourism sector in the UK. Further, Sri Lanka Tourism UK office was shortlisted as one of the Best Tourist Board offices in UK by Travel & Trade Gazette (TTG magazine) for two consecutive years (2009 & 2010).

Holding a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from The Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. he also possesses a Postgraduate Professional Diploma in Marketing – CIM (UK) and an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration – ABE (UK).

Moreover, he is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Marketing – UK, is Executive Committee Member – PATA (UK Chapter), Secretary / Board Member of Chartered Institute of Marketing (U.K.) - Sri Lanka Region  (2006 – 2008) and Committee Member of Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) – Sri Lanka Branch/Region since 1998. He is currently serving as the Secretary of CIM Sri Lanka Regional board.  Sanjika Perera has relocated to Colombo, Sri Lanka, with his wife and three children recently and has taken up this assignment at the invitation of Serendib Leisure.

Abbas Esufally, Chairman, Serendib Leisure, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Sanjika Perera on board to the Serendib Leisure Group. His proven record in the work he did for Sri Lanka Tourism in the UK and his strategic management of partners and customer relationships make him the ideal candidate to steer the new and unique hospitality experience we offer at our resort properties. As a group, Serendib Leisure and Hemas Holdings are poised for expansion and I am confident that Sanjika Perera will infuse added value to our new businesses, supported strongly by his ability to harness and leverage on emerging business opportunities in a post-war climate.”