AB Securitas Director/CEO Pradeep Kannangara Honored with Double Gold at CPM Management Leadership Excellence Awards 2026

Wing Commander D. Pradeep S. Kannangara (Retd.), Director and Chief Executive Officer of AB Securitas (Pvt) Ltd, has been honored with the prestigious CPM Management Leadership Excellence Award 2026, securing Two Gold Awards in the Cluster Award – Quality & Productivity and Security Guards & Patrol Services sector under the C-Suite Executive Leadership category. The recognition reflects his distinguished leadership, strategic vision and sustained contribution to transforming Sri Lanka’s corporate security and Total Loss Prevention landscape.

The award recognizes C-suite leaders who demonstrate exceptional leadership in enabling diversification and sustainable growth. Under Pradeep’s stewardship, AB Securitas has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from an operation of just 38 personnel into a workforce of more than 5,200, 120 + Cash-In-Transit Vehicles operating daily, 06 fully fledged Cash Management Centres, fully managing over 1500 ATMs (SSDs) for different banks and a fully operational Electronic Security Division (ESD) AB Securitas provides Integrated security solutions while establishing itself as Sri Lanka’s leading Total Loss Prevention Solution provider. His leadership has been defined by discipline, resilience, strategic decision-making and the ability to deliver consistently under pressure.

Pradeep’s recognition under the criterion “Leadership that Enables Diversification and Sustainable Growth” reflects a leadership journey that began in 1998. A former Sri Lanka Air Force Wing Commander, he commanded the elite Special Air Borne Force and was honored with the Presidential Gallantry Award in 1994. These experiences shaped a leadership philosophy grounded in discipline, decisive action, resilience and operational excellence.

Today, AB Securitas operates five regional hubs in Matara, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and Jaffna, each equipped with modern training facilities. The company has also established a substantial international presence in Bangladesh, with ongoing expansion into the Maldives, strengthening its position as a Sri Lankan enterprise with an increasing international footprint.

Pradeep’s strategic leadership has been particularly evident during periods of unprecedented national and global disruption. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, his crisis-management capabilities and business-continuity strategies enabled AB Securitas to maintain an uninterrupted cash and security services, while achieving zero employee fatalities and minimal infections.

During Sri Lanka’s severe economic and fuel crisis in 2022, he again demonstrated decisive leadership by establishing dedicated fuel storage, redesigning operational routes, optimizing fleet deployment and developing an independent fuel reservoir in with the blessings of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).

A defining element of Pradeep’s leadership has been his commitment to strategic diversification and the development of globally competitive Sri Lankan enterprises. Under his direction, AB Securitas expanded beyond traditional man-power static guarding into a comprehensive portfolio of high-value security and risk-management solutions, including Total Cash Management, Cash-in-Transit (CIT), CCTV solutions and Remote Alarm / CCTV Monitoring with Quick Response Teams (QRT), Total ATM Management, Marine Security and Sniffer Dog Services.

His leadership also drove the introduction of industry-first solutions such as Total Cash Management and Brown Label SSD ATM / CRM / CDM) solutions, supported by strategic international partnerships including Oberthur France, G & D Germany and CPS of United Kingdom. These initiatives enabled mature business verticals to evolve into independent sister companies, including AB Cash Management Services, DOK Solutions Lanka and ABS Courier, further strengthening the organization’s diversified service ecosystem.

Quality, governance and operational excellence remain integral to Pradeep’s leadership approach. AB Securitas became the first Sri Lankan security services provider to achieve ISO 9001 certification way back in 2007 and ISO 45001 certification in 2014. The company remains the only security services provider to receive the National Quality Award in 2015, and has subsequently earned numerous prestigious accolades, including the Asia Pacific Business Excellence Award (2016), the USA-based Business World International Award (2020) and the National Business Excellence Gold Award (2026).

Beyond business growth and operational achievements, Pradeep’s leadership has focused on building a resilient and future-ready organization through strong governance, independent directorships, robust risk management, innovation and continuous capability development.

The CPM Management Leadership Excellence Award 2026 stands as a significant recognition of a leadership journey defined by transformation, diversification, resilience and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Under Pradeep Pradeep’s leadership, AB Securitas continues to strengthen its position at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s security and Total Loss Prevention industry while expanding its capabilities and international reach.