EDB Chief Indira steps down; Johanne to oversee tourism promotion

By Charumini de Silva

Export Development Board (EDB) Chairperson and Chief Executive Indira Malwatte yesterday tendered her resignation.

Malwatte steps down from the position after a stint of over four years following the Strategic Development and International Trade Minister also announcing his resignation from the Government and retirement from active politics in the wake of the polls loss on Saturday.

Malwatte had a longstanding career at EDB before she was appointed Chairperson. 

Accordingly, until a new Chairman and Chief Executive is appointed by the Government, Development Strategy and International Trade Ministry Additional Secretary – Development, W.A.D.S. Gunasinghe, will oversee the country’s apex agency tasked with export development. 

Malwatte was instrumental in getting the National Export Strategy (NES) towards the growth of Sri Lanka’s export sector.

Last year, Sri Lanka achieved $ 16 billion worth of merchandised exports, up from $ 13.9 billion in combined exports in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Development Ministry yesterday announced that Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Johanne Jayaratne had been appointed acting Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) from 15 November.

The temporary appointment of Jayaratne comes as a request from the tourism industry as the SLTPB plays a vital role in globally promoting Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. 

Former SLTPB Chairman Kishu Gomes resigned from the post last Friday (15).