Sri Lanka’s largest textile manufacturer,Teejay Lanka PLC, has appointed AjitGunewardene as its new airman with effect from February 17, 2022, consequent to his appointment as an independent non-executive director of the Company on 1st February.
A former Deputy Chairman of John Keells Holdings (JKH) and a former Chairman of Nations Trust Bank (NTB) and Union Assurance, Gunewardane will succeed Bill Lam, who resigns on February 17, ending a 13-year stint at the helm of the Company. Gunewardene’s appointment is expected to be pivotal to the growth journey of the Company, which has already announced targets of becoming a $ 300 million enterprise by 2023 and a US$ 500 million business in the longer term.
Gunewardene is the Founder and Chairman of Bluestone Capital, a leading private equity investment company. He is the Founder Chairman of Digital Mobility Solutions., better known as ‘PickMe’ – the leading ride hailing and delivery company in Sri Lanka, and Chairman of Fintrex Finance, a Central Bank of Sri Lanka registered non-bank financial institution. He is also a Council Member of the University of Colombo.
In retail, MrGunewardene was instrumental in mentoring and guiding the island’s largest branded retail business ‘ODEL.’ As its seed investor and chairman, he guided the management of the company, took it public and sold the business in 2014.
