Yashoravi Bakmiwewa creates history in South Asia after being appointed Director General of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), becoming the first woman to lead the organisation and the first female head of an Employers’ Business Member Organisation (EBMO) in the region.
Yashoravi Bakmiwewa creates history in South Asia with landmark EFC appointment
The appointment marks a historic milestone in the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon’s 97-year history, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to inclusive leadership, professional excellence and continuity. Bakmiwewa becomes the 14th Director General of the EFC, succeeding Vajira Ellepola, who led the Federation through a period of continued growth and strengthened its position as Sri Lanka’s leading voice for employers.
Her appointment is significant not only for Sri Lanka but also for South Asia, as she is the first woman to serve as Director General of an Employers’ Business Member Organisation (EBMO) in the region. The milestone represents an important step forward in leadership diversity among employer representative organisations.
An Attorney-at-Law with more than 16 years of service at the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Bakmiwewa brings extensive experience in labour law, industrial relations and employer advocacy. She graduated from the University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and later completed a Master’s degree in Labour Relations and Human Resources Management.
She was admitted as an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2007 and began her legal career at the Attorney General’s Department before joining the EFC in 2010.
Throughout her tenure at the Federation, Bakmiwewa has played a key role in providing strategic legal and industrial relations advice to member organisations across a wide range of industries. Her expertise has supported employers in navigating labour legislation, workplace compliance and employment relations during periods of significant economic and regulatory change.
In 2019, she was appointed Head of the EFC’s training division, where she led initiatives that strengthened workplace compliance and promoted productive employment relations. Under her leadership, the division achieved several important milestones, expanding the Federation’s capacity to deliver professional development programmes for employers and human resource professionals.
Beyond advisory services, Bakmiwewa has represented employer interests in national policy discussions through participation in Wages Boards and various tripartite forums and national steering committees. Her contributions have helped shape dialogue on labour policies affecting Sri Lanka’s private sector.
Commenting on her appointment, Bakmiwewa said the Federation remains well positioned to support businesses as they respond to evolving socio-economic challenges.
She noted that the EFC’s nearly century-long history has been defined by resilience and adaptability through periods of uncertainty and transformation, adding that the organisation would continue to innovate and assist private sector businesses in an increasingly complex operating environment.
The Yashoravi Bakmiwewa creates history in South Asia milestone also comes at a time when businesses are adapting to rapid technological change. She highlighted the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on workplaces, emphasizing that the Federation is committed to helping employers embrace business transformation while remaining mindful of environmental and sustainability challenges that are reshaping industries worldwide.
With her appointment as Director General, Bakmiwewa is expected to lead the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon into its next phase of development, focusing on supporting employers through changing labour market dynamics, technological innovation and sustainable economic growth.