Deloitte Sri Lanka partnered with the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors to host the Corporate Director Summit 2026, bringing together over 350 business leaders to discuss modern board governance and leadership challenges.
The Sri Lanka Corporate Director Summit 2026, held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, convened more than 350 board directors, senior executives and governance professionals alongside 15 international thought leaders. Organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors with Deloitte as strategic partner, the event marked a milestone celebration of 25 years of the institute's work in advancing corporate governance in the country.
Under the theme "Future-Ready Sri Lankan Boards – From Compliance to Sustainable Growth," the summit prioritised emerging boardroom challenges including artificial intelligence governance and digital risk management. Duleesha Kulasooriya, Asia Pacific Innovation Leader at Deloitte, delivered a keynote address emphasising that organisations face significant risks by failing to adopt artificial intelligence, while stressing that competitive advantage stems not from technology alone but from leadership that learns quickly and acts decisively. He identified curiosity, curation and courage as critical leadership qualities and highlighted governance's role in enabling responsible innovation.
Deloitte representatives contributed throughout the programme in various capacities. Sessions explored how boards can transition from compliance-focused approaches to strategic leadership, with particular attention to workforce challenges and organisational culture. Jehil Thakkar provided regional perspectives on navigating rapid technological change and evolving stakeholder expectations, while Mayura Malagala participated in discussions on talent strategy and employee wellbeing as boardroom priorities.
The summit underscored the importance of forward-looking board leadership in addressing economic, technological and societal shifts. Organisers emphasised that strong governance structures remain essential for building organisational resilience, maintaining stakeholder confidence and creating sustainable long-term value as Sri Lankan businesses face transformation pressures.
