Sarva Ameresekere takes the helm as Group Chairman of George Steuart & Co. Ltd. (GS&Co), Sri Lanka’s oldest company founded in 1835. This leadership transition follows Dilith Jayaweera’s resignation from all Group Chairmanship and director roles in January, as he shifts focus towards national-level political engagement. Jayaweera, along with Varuni Amunugama Fernando and Sarva Ameresekere, acquired GS&Co in 2011, ushering in a period of sustained growth and expansion, reflecting the power of entrepreneurship and belief in staying competitive for over 189 years.
The GS&Co Board undergoes a strengthening phase with the addition of three independent directors: Devaka Cooray, Dimantha Seneviratne, and Dr. Dinesh Palipana. Cooray brings finance and assurance expertise from Ernst & Young, Seneviratne contributes extensive banking experience having recently retired as CEO of NDB Bank, and Dr. Palipana, based in Australia, adds medical and legal expertise alongside advocacy for equality. With these additions, the Board reflects a diverse range of stakeholder interests and expertise, complementing visionaries like Varuni Amunugama Fernando and Sarva Ameresekere, and industry leaders Dai Pathmanathan and Eran Ranasinghe.
Sarva Ameresekere, appointed to the GS&Co Board in 2020 and later as Group Executive Director, assumes the role of Group Chairman. His background in business and engineering, coupled with extensive local and international experience, positions GS&Co for global ambitions and a forward-looking approach. With a diversified portfolio including tea exports, healthcare, travel, financial services, and more, GS&Co under Ameresekere’s leadership charts a path towards continued growth and relevance in the evolving business landscape.
The appointment of Sarva Ameresekere as Group Chairman signifies a strategic shift for GS&Co, emphasizing a commitment to excellence, innovation, and global competitiveness. With a robust Board composition and a bold vision for the future, Sri Lanka’s oldest company prepares for a phase of accelerated growth and industry leadership under new stewardship.