Dr. Tissa Jayaweera no more

Senior business leader, a pioneering personality in the ceramics industry and a Daily FT columnist, Dr. Tissa Jayaweera has passed away peacefully on Tuesday at the age of 76.

He is the former President of the International Chamber of Commerce apart from many positions held in several private sector organisations. 

At the time of his death, he was the Chairman of TJ Associates and Vision 8 Academy.

His remains lie at Restpect Jayaratne Funeral Parlour and is open for viewing on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. before cremation at the General Cemetery Kanatte new crematorium at 4:30 p.m.

After an engineering career of six years in two reputed companies of Colombo, Tissa joined Ceylon Ceramics Corporation. Trained by Noritake, Japan in Ceramic Technology and Manufacture, he was seconded to establish Lanka Porcelain Ltd., the Noritake/Ceylon Ceramics JV in Sri Lanka.

In 1983, Tissa proceeded to the USA and was employed by Pepsi Cola and trained in Customer Care and Hospitality. Later he joined General Motors and was trained in Sales & Marketing and achieved the Best Sales Person Award of General Motors for Southern California on two occasions.

Tissa was also responsible for the establishment of the first ICT company, ITMIN Ltd., a deal between the Government of Sri Lanka/UNDP/UNIDO and the Private Sector. He was elected an Honorary Member of the American Biographical Society. Tissa has represented the country in many trade delegations inclusive of World Bank summits on behalf of Sri Lanka. He was a recipient of the International Gates-Cambridge Scholarship at the University of Cambridge, where he completed his PhD, for outstanding academic merit.