Inaugural Sri Lanka Leadership Summit 2026 a success

From left: Sri Lanka Brand Forum Co-Founder Rohan Somawansa, L Catterton India Executive Chairman and former Unilever South Asia President Sanjiv Mehta, and Sri  Lanka Brand Forum Founder Shariful Islam 

• Brings together global thought leaders to discuss resilient leadership amid uncertainty

The inaugural Sri Lanka Leadership Summit 2026, organised by Sri Lanka Brand Forum and powered by CBL Munchee concluded successfully at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, bringing together globally renowned business leaders, academics, entrepreneurs, and corporate decision-makers for a day-long dialogue on the future of leadership in an increasingly volatile world.

Held under the theme “Resilient Leadership – Thriving Amid Uncertainty,” the summit focused on how organisations and leaders can navigate economic instability, technological disruption, changing workforce expectations, and declining institutional trust.

The event featured keynote sessions, panel discussions, and leadership dialogues with internationally recognised speakers and leading Sri Lankan corporate leaders.

Delivering the opening remarks, Sri Lanka Brand Forum Founder Shariful Islam said that modern leadership is being redefined by uncertainty and rapid change, making resilience, adaptability, and purpose-driven thinking essential qualities for organisations seeking long-term relevance.

One of the key highlights of the summit was the keynote session by L Catterton India Executive Chairman and former Unilever South Asia President Sanjiv Mehta. Speaking on “Leadership in Turbulent Times,” he emphasised the importance of values-based leadership, organisational agility, and maintaining human connection during periods of disruption.

The summit also featured a live virtual keynote by globally renowned brand strategist Prophet Vice Chairman David Aaker. His session focused on how trust, authenticity, and purpose are becoming central to leadership and brand-building in the modern era.

A panel discussion titled “From Crisis to Catalyst: Reinventing Business Models in Uncertain Times” brought together leading Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and business founders including JAT Holdings PLC Founder and Managing Director Aelian Gunawardene; Lassana Group Founder and Chairman Dr. Lasantha Malavige, of Santani Wellness Resorts Founder and CEO Vickum Nawagamuwage  and Prime Group Chairman Premalal Brahmanage. Moderated by Postgraduate Institute of Management Director Dr. Asanga Ranasinghe, the discussion explored how organisations can transform crises into opportunities for reinvention and growth.

The summit also featured the launch of several new initiatives by Sri Lanka Brand Forum, including Leadership Academy, Sri Lanka Brand Conference, and the Sri Lanka Sustainability Summit and SDG Brand Champion platform.

Another notable session focused on next-generation leadership under the theme “Purpose-Driven Leadership: Why the Next Generation Leads Differently.” Moderated by Microsoft Asia Cloud and AI Integrated Marketing Lead Migration and Modernisation Thilanka Abeywardena, and the discussants were Stafford Motor Company Executive Director Tarindra Kaluperuma;  Hemas Consumer Brands Managing Director Sabrina Esufally; Akbar Brothers Executive Director Hussain Akbarally; and Surge Global Founder and CEO Bhanuka Harischandra. the discussion featured young business leaders from leading Sri Lankan organisations and explored how younger generations are reshaping leadership through purpose, inclusivity, and digital-first thinking.

The summit also featured a keynote by INSEAD’s Paddy Padmanabhan titled “The Phoenix Mindset: Reinventing Leadership in an Age of Constant Disruption,” where he discussed the importance of continuous reinvention and learning agility in rapidly evolving business environments.

A CEO panel discussion on “The Future of Leadership: What Will Define Resilience in the Next Decade?” featured Unilever Sri Lanka CEO and Cluster General Manager  - Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar Ali Tariq, Mastercard Country Manager – Sri Lanka and Maldives Sandun Hapugoda, Singer Sri Lanka PLC Group Managing Director Mahesh Wijewardena; and Ceylon Biscuits Ltd., CEO Nalin Brian Karunaratne. This panel was moderated by Management Consultant, Author, Accredited Master Coach/Mentor Deepal Sooriyaarachchi. The panel discussed evolving global leadership expectations, rebuilding trust and the growing importance of empathy, adaptability, and authentic communication.

The concluding keynote was delivered by National University of Singapore’s Kulwant Singh on “Strategy for Resilience in Volatile Environments.” He highlighted the need for organisations to redesign strategies, partnerships, and resource allocation systems to remain competitive amid technological and economic disruption.

All participants of the Sri Lanka Leadership Summit received a complimentary copy of the leadership book “A CEO’s Brew: Stirred with Passion, Purpose and Humbition,” authored by Sanjiv Mehta.

Delivering the closing remarks, Senior Professor in Management Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri emphasised that resilience is no longer a reactive capability but a strategic necessity for leaders and organisations operating in today’s rapidly changing environment. He noted that the summit demonstrated the growing importance of purpose-driven leadership, continuous learning, and institutional adaptability in shaping the future of business and society.

The formal vote of thanks was delivered by Sri Lanka Brand Forum Co-Founder Rohan Somawansa, expressed gratitude to all keynote speakers, panelists, partners, delegates, and stakeholders for contributing to the successful execution of the summit. He stated that the overwhelming response to the event reflects the growing need for meaningful leadership dialogue and collaborative learning platforms within Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region.

According to Sri Lanka Brand Forum, the summit is expected to evolve into a long-term regional platform dedicated to advancing leadership thinking, organisational resilience, and business transformation across Sri Lanka and South Asia.

The Gold Sponsors for the event were Munchee by Ceylon Biscuits Ltd., Singer Sri Lanka PLC; and Elephant House. The Brew Partner was Barista. The Strategic Partners included Asia Marketing Federation, Mongolian Marketing Association, Philippines Marketing Association, World Marketing Community, Superbrands Sri Lanka, and Transmedia. The Learning and Development Partner was British Institute of Branding, while the Marketing Education Partner were Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and CMA (Australia). The Knowledge Partner was CIM Sri Lanka and the Creative Partner was Ban. The Exclusive Magazine Partner was LMD, while the Print and Digital Media Partners included the Daily FT,  Sunday Times, and Daily Mirror. The PR Partner was Ngage and the Hospitality Partner was Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The summit was an initiative of Sri Lanka Brand Forum.

– Pix by Ruwan Walpola