Sri Lankan Business Leaders Share Insights at I AM COYLE Leadership Forum

Colombo, Sri Lanka – A forum featuring prominent Sri Lankan business leaders and international cricket coach Jason Gillespie took place this week, focusing on entrepreneurship, resilience, and innovation.

The I AM COYLE Leadership Forum, organized by the Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE), hosted Suren Chandraratna of the Sirocco Group, Dinuk Hettiarachchi of Nihal Hettiarachchi & Co and RHN Ventures, and Janik Jayasuriya of Celeste, alongside Gillespie. Gillespie, in his keynote titled ‘A builder of teams and business,’ emphasized the importance of self-belief and adaptation, recalling how early criticism fueled his determination to succeed in cricket. “All they saw was a scrawny skinny teenager who bowled medium pace in the fourth grade. I’ve always referred to this as my light bulb moment,” he explained, noting that this experience taught him the need for change and the power of preparation.

Speakers shared personal journeys highlighting the challenges and triumphs of building successful businesses in Sri Lanka. Chandraratna spoke of a leadership style forged in hardship, emphasizing the importance of purpose and finding alternative solutions, while Hettiarachchi discussed balancing legacy with innovation, stressing the value of strong teams. Jayasuriya detailed pivoting his hospitality business during the pandemic to deliver essential goods, stating that leadership is “not about control, but about momentum.” This event comes at a crucial time for Sri Lanka’s economy, as the nation seeks to foster a more robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The forum also included interactive sessions designed to encourage collaborative problem-solving and a mindset of shared leadership, drawing attendees from both Sri Lanka and a visiting delegation from New Zealand. Further information on COYLE and its initiatives can be found on their official website. The principles discussed align with broader concepts of effective leadership explored by organizations like the Korn Ferry Institute.

Organizers stated that the forum’s discussions will inform future COYLE initiatives aimed at supporting and empowering entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka.