Innovators, pioneers and the diplomatic community join forces to elevate Sri Lanka’s ‘UPRISE’ globally at CA Sri Lanka’s 46th National Conference
3 October 2025: In a historic move, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) will convene a powerful coalition of innovators, pioneers, and international ambassadors at its 46th National Conference of Chartered Accountants, to help transform Sri Lanka’s challenges into opportunities by leveraging global knowledge for local action.
Held under the theme “UPRISE – Global Insight >> Local Impact,” the three-day event will commence on Wednesday, 8 October 2025 at the Monarch Imperial, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte with a ceremonial inauguration. This will be followed by technical sessions on 9 and 10 October. Dubbed Sri Lanka’s largest annual business summit, the event is expected to attract around 2,500 delegates, uniting thought leaders, diplomats, scholars, entrepreneurs, and professionals to chart a new course for the nation’s future.
The conference will commence with an inspiring keynote address by Dillip Rajakarier, Chief Executive Officer of Minor Hotels and Group CEO of Minor International, who will set the tone for global ambition and regional collaboration at the ceremonial inauguration on 8 October.
The two-day technical sessions will begin on 9 October with a motivational session titled “Vision to Legacy: Scaling New Heights”, featuring Johann Peries, mountaineer, stylist, and entrepreneur, whose story of defying limits and embracing challenges will inspire attendees to pursue their own goals fearlessly and build legacies that transcend personal achievement.
This will be followed by the first thematic session, “Navigating Geopolitics for Growth: Sri Lanka’s Strategic Play”, will explore how Sri Lanka can turn global disruption into opportunity. Professor Patrick Mendis, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Transatlantic Relations at the University of Warsaw, will examine shifting power dynamics and their impact on trade, energy, and supply chains. Antonina Łuszczykiewicz-Mendis, a visiting scholar at Oxford, will highlight the Indian Ocean as Sri Lanka’s natural business sphere, emphasising opportunities in logistics, fintech, and education. Harsha Basnayake, Global Managing Partner - Business Administration & Risk, EY, will challenge Sri Lanka’s risk aversion and advocate for bold, tech-enabled strategies to scale beyond domestic borders. The session will conclude with a panel discussion moderated by Murtaza Jafferjee, Chairman of the Advocata Institute.
In the afternoon, Kavini ‘Nim’ Induruwa, Lead Programme Integrator at Jaguar Land Rover
And Aerospace Engineer, will deliver a motivational talk titled “Vision to Legacy: Elevate and Empower”. Her journey from Sri Lanka to Jaguar Land Rover in the UK will serve as a call to action for young professionals and entrepreneurs to think globally and act boldly.
The second session, “Harmonising Global Business: From Local Strengths to Global Markets”, will focus on transforming Sri Lankan businesses into global value creators. Yasas Vishuddhi Abeywickrama, Chief Operating Officer of Doerscircle, Singapore and Board Member of Sarvodaya Fusion, will diagnose the tech sector’s potential and challenges, while Rajitha Kariyawasan, Managing Director of Haycarb PLC, will offer insights from the manufacturing sector. Moderated by Dr Naveen Gunawardane, Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of LYNEAR Wealth Management, the session will provide a strategic roadmap for scaling Sri Lankan brands internationally.
The third session, “Digital Horizons: Innovating for Global Impact”, will be led by Sachindra Samararatne, Associate Chief Digital Economy Officer at ICTA. He will highlight the evolving role of Chartered Accountants in the digital economy, particularly in valuation, compliance, and supporting startup growth. A panel featuring Chulanga Perera, Chief Transformation Officer at Hemas Holdings PLC, and Anjana Wijegunasinghe, Head of Analytics & Tooling – Compliance & Ethics at Euroclear, and moderated by Dulith Herath, Founder and Chairman of Kapruka Holdings PLC, the session will explore how Sri Lanka can harness digital tools to build global brands and overcome barriers to transformation.
Day two of the technical sessions, on 10 October, will begin with “From Homegrown to World Known: The Journey to Global Recognition”, featuring Anudi Gunasekara, Miss Sri Lanka 2024 and founder of the Saheli Foundation. Her story of breaking barriers will be followed by a panel discussion with Vickum Nawagamuwage, founder of Santani Wellness, and Joel Tillekeratne, founder of Carnage. Moderated by Moiz Rehmanjee, the session will explore personal branding, innovation, and the journeys of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs who have achieved global success.
The final session, “Pearl in the Indian Ocean: Building Bridges”, will be a landmark diplomatic panel featuring ambassadors from Indonesia, Malaysia, the European Union, Bangladesh, and Türkiye. Moderated by Dhananath Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of Advocata Institute, the discussion will explore Sri Lanka’s strategic location and the potential of regional partnerships to unlock shared growth. This unprecedented gathering of diplomatic voices comprising of
H.E. Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka, H.E. Badli Hisham Adam, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, H.E. Carmen Moreno, the Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, H.E. Andalib Elias, High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Sri Lanka, and H.E. Semih Lütfü Turgut, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Sri Lanka and Maldives, will offer insights into trade, culture, and collaboration, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s role as a connector in the Indian Ocean.
The conference will conclude with a special segment titled “Global Insight >> Local Impact”, featuring a performance by renowned theatre artist Indu Dharmasena, celebrating Sri Lanka’s creative spirit and resilience.
