Leaders from key business units at John Keells Group, Sri Lanka’s largest conglomerate, discuss their roles in driving business excellence, innovation, sustainability, and inclusion. Their insights highlight how women significantly impact and shape strategic initiatives and contribute to long-term value creation across industries and professional disciplines.
Sharing their insights are Himali Premathilaka (Head of B2B, French, Benelux, Nordic, and Japanese Markets Whittall Boustead & Assistant Vice President John Keells Group), Thushani Wijewickrama (Head of Tax – Consumer Foods & Retail sectors & Assistant Vice President, John Keells Group), Anosha Koralage (Head of Sustainability, Enterprise Risk Management and Group Initiatives & Senior Assistant Vice President, John Keells Group), Poornika Wickramasuriya (Principal – Analytics Delivery, OCTAVE & Assistant Vice President, John Keells Group), Upulka Samarakoon (Head of Group HR Policies and Processes, Head of HR – Centre Functions & IT Sector & Vice President, John Keells Group) and Wathsala Aluthgedara (Chief Partnership Distribution Officer, Union Assurance & Senior Vice President, John Keells Group).
As Head of B2B for multiple international markets, how have you navigated both cultural and gender diversity to build impactful business relationships and foster an inclusive environment across your markets?
Himali Premathilaka: At the John Keells Group, we view cultural differences as an opportunity to build authentic relationships by respecting local norms while staying true to our core values. The travel and destination management industry has traditionally been male-dominated, particularly in Sri Lanka. Still, we’ve made it a priority to challenge this by increasing female representation in non-traditional roles.
A significant milestone for us has been achieving 46% female representation across our Group’s destination management sector. This isn’t just a statistic—it reflects our commitment to long-term sustainable DE&I initiatives aligned to ONE JKH.
We’ve also made notable strides in recruiting women for traditionally male-dominated roles by providing equitable merit-based opportunities and addressing unconscious bias. For instance, we have successfully placed female representatives in roles operating out of our international airport—positions men have historically filled. This accomplishment reflects our dedication to breaking gender barriers and fostering an inclusive work environment.
Additionally, our Industrial Training Centre at Sabaragamuwa University bridges the gap between academia and industry, providing mentorship, hands-on training, and internships to both men and women. This initiative ensures the next generation of professionals is equipped with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape.
As a specialist in tax strategy for consumer foods and retail, how are you addressing the evolving demands of these dynamic sectors like consumer foods and retail?
Thushani Wijewickrama: The taxation system in Sri Lanka’s consumer foods and retail sectors is complex, with frequent changes to VAT, excise duties, and other levies. These changes can disrupt operations, pricing strategies, and compliance. I focus on staying ahead of regulatory shifts, building strategic partnerships with statutory bodies, and adopting innovative tax planning strategies to navigate this. Over the past two years, I’ve ensured our businesses stay compliant with changing tax laws, particularly regarding VAT, excise duties, and income tax rates. This includes updating systems and training teams across departments to manage these changes effectively.
What are some of the initiatives of John Keells Group that support financial literacy and economic empowerment of women?
Thushani Wijewickrama: Women entrepreneurs, especially at the grassroots level, face financial challenges due to gaps in education, access to capital, financial management, tax compliance, and strategy. In the Consumer Foods Sector, initiatives like Dinnanee empower women by promoting their economic contributions and self-worth through selling, distribution, and sourcing for our frozen confectionery business. Internal programmes, such as Master Wallet, focus on financial management to create a more inclusive work environment.
Sustainability and risk management require balancing long-term resilience with immediate priorities. How have you driven meaningful initiatives that align with these critical objectives?
Anosha Koralage: Sustainability and risk management involve assessing immediate and long-term goals. By understanding stakeholder expectations and identifying risks, organizations can set priorities informed by both quantitative data and qualitative insights. A structured approach begins with clear ambitions, supported by effective resource allocation and a strong governance framework. Communication is key in aligning internal efforts while enhancing the corporate image. These initiatives are most impactful when backed by a data-driven system and reinforce the organization’s long-term purpose.
From left: Himali Premathilaka, Thushani Wijewickrama, Anosha Koralage
Sustainable sourcing is key to ethical and responsible business practices. How can integrating more women into the value chain—whether as suppliers, entrepreneurs, or decision-makers—enhance sustainability outcomes?
Anosha Koralage: Integrating women into the value chain promotes familial financial resilience and inclusive growth. Women entrepreneurs often prioritize sustainable sourcing and reinvest in communities, driving long-term social and environmental benefits. John Keells consistently supports this shift by encouraging women-owned and women-led businesses in our supply chain. Women-led Material Recovery Facilities through initiatives like Gunadamin by Elephant House and the Keells supermarket chain’s Govidiri sustainable sourcing programme help empower women and contribute to the circular economy. There is also a myriad of initiatives by the John Keells Foundation, supported by our diverse Group business, that economically empower women in our communities, from producing paper and batik products to growing mushrooms and beekeeping.
In your role leading the delivery of advanced analytics projects, how have you harnessed the power of data to drive innovation and create measurable impact in decision-making?
Poornika Wickramasuriya: In my role, I leverage data to solve real-world business problems by developing and deploying advanced analytics use cases that deliver measurable financial and operational impact. I identify gaps and opportunities across the business value chain by analyzing historical data and collaborating with key stakeholders. Working with the data science team, we develop innovative descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive advanced analytics solutions to address these gaps and estimate their potential impact. We then pilot these solutions in a real-world business setting and measure the outcomes against predefined KPIs to ensure they deliver tangible results.
Women remain underrepresented in STEM fields. From your journey, what are the key barriers preventing more girls from entering data-driven careers, and what practical steps have OCTAVE taken to bridge this gap?
Poornika Wickramasuriya: The under-representation of women in STEM is a complex issue tied to societal and cultural factors. At OCTAVE, we’re proud that women hold 37% of our STEM roles, including Data Scientists and Data Engineers positions. We’re committed to merit-based hiring and ensuring fairness, regardless of gender. The John Keells Group’s inclusive policies, such as flexible work arrangements and 100 days equal parental leave, support career growth. We also participate in the annual Women in Data Science (WiDS) Sri Lanka conference, where female role models at OCTAVE share their expertise and inspire and empower young women in the data science community.
Policies and processes are instrumental in shaping workplaces. What changes or initiatives are you most proud of that have enhanced the Group culture and engagement?
Upulka Samarakoon: The John Keells Group’s culture is grounded in our core values of caring, integrity, trust, innovation, and excellence, which guide our HR policies and processes. One initiative we’re particularly proud of is our commitment to supporting parents, demonstrated through our 100 days equal parental leave policy, childcare support, and supervisor training. Notably, we now see parity in the numbers of men and women availing themselves of parental leave, helping to break down gender stereotypes and recognize the importance of shared parental responsibilities.
From left: Upulka Samarakoon, Wathsala Aluthgedara, Poornika Wickramasuriya
We believe that physical, mental and financial well-being is vital for the success of our people. Our well-being programmes include company-sponsored counselling, regular awareness sessions, and engaging activities like the annual Step Challenge, where many adopt the goal of 10,000 steps daily. During Career Week, we offer opportunities for professional networking, learning, and personal growth and a pop-up sale for our staff to showcase their passion projects and side businesses.
As a company that values trust and governance, we are relaunching our Code of Conduct with updated content and introducing a Speak-up policy. Along with frameworks like the Ombudsperson policy, these steps foster a culture of openness, transparency, and mutual respect across the organization.
The insurance industry is evolving to meet changing consumer needs, with an increasing focus on investments and risk management. How can marketing and strategic partnerships be leveraged to build financial resilience, particularly for women, and drive more inclusive, customer-centric innovations in the industry?
Wathsala Aluthgedara: At Union Assurance, we prioritize inclusivity in our approach to financial resilience. We recognize that women increasingly make key financial decisions, and empowering them through accessible, customer-centric products is crucial. We provide affordable financial solutions and improve financial literacy by forging strategic partnerships with banks and fintech companies. For example, our Cancer Care product, the first in Sri Lanka to be available online, makes it easier for women to protect themselves and their families.
We also actively listen to customer feedback and market trends to design products that meet diverse needs, especially those of women, who often face unique financial challenges. Through these insights, we create digital platforms that enhance the accessibility and ease of using financial services, ensuring that more women can manage their financial well-being confidently.
Our dedication to inclusivity and innovation has earned us recognition: “Most Innovative Life Insurance Provider Sri Lanka – 2024” at the Gazet International Annual Awards, “Most Digitally Forward Life Insurer – 2024” from Global Brands Magazine, and “Most Loved Insurer Brand Sri Lanka – 2024” from World Economic Magazine. These awards reflect our ongoing commitment to transforming the insurance sector with innovative solutions.