Dr. Malraj B. Kiriella receives lifetime recognition at OPA National Apex Awards 2025

Dr. Malraj Bharatha Kiriella recently received the National Apex Award of Professional Excellence in Marketing and Hospitality at the 4th National Apex Awards 2025, organised by the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA). 

The award was presented by Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne at the ceremony held in Colombo.

This recognition marks a lifetime achievement, celebrating Dr. Kiriella’s nearly four decades of dedicated service to Sri Lanka’s tourism, hospitality, and marketing sectors. His career has been defined by innovation, policy reforms, and pioneering initiatives that have contributed significantly to strengthening Sri Lanka’s global brand.

Dr. Kiriella began his career at Air Lanka (later rebranded as SriLankan Airlines) before joining Sri Lanka’s national tourism administration. Over the years, he rose to hold some of the highest positions in the industry, serving as Director General of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, and in multiple Director roles, including Research and International Relations, Marketing, and Standards and Quality Assurance. These roles gave him wide-ranging expertise in strategy, promotion, and regulatory systems. He has also served as a tourism consultant on numerous national planning and strategy initiatives, contributing to the design and implementation of frameworks that continue to shape the industry.

He has represented Sri Lanka internationally at forums such as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), actively strengthening the country’s global partnerships and securing multilateral support for the tourism sector.

An accomplished academic and professional, Dr. Kiriella holds a PhD in Economics, multiple degrees in Law and Economics, and continues to contribute as a senior lecturer and academic mentor, guiding the next generation of professionals in Sri Lanka and abroad. He has been recognised as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), and also served on its Market Interest Group on Tourism, helping uplift product and service standards within the industry. He is a Chartered Companion of the Chartered Management Institute (UK), an Attorney-at-Law and the current Chairman of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Law Students’ Skills Development Committee, as well as Vice President of the Sri Lanka Economic Association. He is also closely engaged with numerous professional bodies, through which he has worked to uplift professionalism in the field.

Internationally, he was awarded a United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Fellowship in International Affairs Management at the United Nations Headquarters, undertook a UNWTO Practicum on global tourism administration, and was recognised at George Washington University, USA, as a Visiting Research Fellow in Tourism. In addition, he is the Founder and Owner of South Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Services (SAMAS).

The award reflects not only his personal dedication but also the broader impact of his work in shaping sustainable policies, community-based tourism initiatives, and international collaborations that continue to benefit the nation’s economy and cultural identity.