Global Group announces new Board appointments

Mahesha Ranasoma

Ananda Caldera

Channa Weeratunga

Dinesh Navaratnam

The Global Group comprising Global Rubber Industries Ltd., Global Seafood Ltd., Global Fisheries Ltd. and Ayenka Holdings Ltd., has announced new appointments to the Board of Directors of its affiliate companies.

Dr. Mahesha Ranasoma and Ananda Caldera have been appointed to the Board of Directors of Global Rubber Industries Ltd. 

Colonel Channa Weeratunga has been appointed as a Director of Global Seafood Ltd. and Global Fisheries Ltd. 

Dinesh Navaratnam was appointed to the Board of Ayenka Holdings Ltd.

Global Rubber Industries Ltd. (GRI) produces radial agriculture tyres, construction tyres and material handling solid tyres. It has offices in nine countries and a sales presence in over 50 countries. GRI’s advanced production plant is the largest to produce high-grade specialty tyres and the first to produce radial agriculture tyres in Sri Lanka.

Global Seafood Ltd. and Global Fisheries Ltd. are committed to ethical and sustainable seafood production and are leading processors and exporters of seafood products worldwide. The companies were founded in 1999.

Ayenka Holdings Ltd. is a Sri Lankan investment company founded in 2016 and an affiliate company of the Global Group. It has a large and diverse portfolio of investments in the Colombo Stock Exchange with a focus on insurance, banking, renewable energy, and real-estate.

“It is a pleasure to welcome these new appointments to the boards of the Global Group’s affiliate companies. These Directors bring a wealth of expertise and collective experience across diverse roles which will be instrumental for the growth and governance of the group. I look forward to working with them and building on these strengths and synergies,” said Global Group Managing Director Prabhash Subasinghe.

“I have been involved with GRI since its inception 19 years ago. As Chairman of the Board, it has been a privilege for me to see the rapid growth of GRI over the years and the quick success of Ayenka. I welcome the new board members and wish them every success in taking these companies to the next level, both in Sri Lanka and overseas,” said Global Group Chairman Harris Premaratne.

Dr. Mahesha Ranasoma joined GRI in July 2018 as the company’s first CEO. Prior to joining GRI, he served as a Main Board Director of Hayleys PLC and Managing Director of Dipped Products PLC since August 2010. He was the former Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Sri Lanka and Managing Director of Shell Gas Lanka Limited and Shell Terminal Lanka Ltd.

Ananda Caldera is the Executive Director of Global Rubber Industries Ltd. Prior to joining Global Rubber, he was the Director of Manufacturing at Associated Motorways Ltd. for 25 years. He counts over 42 years of experience in the rubber industry. He is the past chairman of the Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exports Rubber Products (SLAMERP) and was a President of the Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka. He now acts as the Chairman of the Rubber Sector Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and is also a Board member of the Society of Rubber, Sri Lanka.

Colonel Channa Weeratunga joined Global Finance in April 2006 as the General Manager and served as the Executive Director of Global Seafood Ltd. and Global Fisheries Ltd. in year 2014. He is a retired Colonel and was the Executive Director of Sevanagala Sugar Industries Ltd., prior to joining the Global Group. He joined the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet and served as a Communication Specialist, Commanding Officer, Senior Staff Officer and a Brigade Commander of two Infantry Brigades during his 22 years of service with the Sri Lanka Army.  Dinesh Navaratnam joined GRI in 2008 and currently holds the position of Treasury Director. He has 30 years of working experience and expertise in areas such as financial planning and management, M&A activity, treasury, accounting and auditing. Dinesh was a former Partner at KPMG Zambia and Director – Finance at Nisol Corrugated Cartons Ltd.