Business MullenLowe’s Praveena Perera becomes first Sri Lankan woman named to Campaign APAC’s 40 Under 40 Published 4 mins agoon 2026/06/27 Praveena Perera Honoured among Asia-Pacific’s most influential emerging professionals Praveena Perera, Associate Vice President and Client…
Business MullenLowe’s Praveena Perera becomes first Sri Lankan woman named to Campaign APAC’s 40 Under 40
Published 4 mins agoon 2026/06/27
Praveena Perera Honoured among Asia-Pacific’s most influential emerging professionals Praveena Perera, Associate Vice President and Client Services Director at MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka, has become the first Sri Lankan woman to be named to Campaign Asia-Pacific’s 40 Under 40 list, a recognition that celebrates the region’s most influential emerging leaders across marketing, media, technology, and communications. Now in its 14th year, Campaign Asia-Pacific’s 40 Under 40 recognises outstanding professionals across the region whose achievements and leadership potential are shaping the future of the industry. Praveena earned her place on the 2026 list following a comprehensive assessment by senior industry leaders and Campaign Asia-Pacific’s editorial team. Commenting on the recognition, Praveena Perera said, “This is a deeply meaningful milestone in a journey that has been shaped by continuous learning, hard work, and the support of many people along the way. I am grateful to MullenLowe Sri Lanka, my colleagues, mentors, and family for their belief in me. Recognition such as this is never an individual achievement, and I hope it encourages more women in Sri Lanka to pursue leadership opportunities and realise their potential.” Praveena currently leads the Unilever portfolio at MullenLowe Sri Lanka, overseeing 27 brands across four categories. Her leadership has played a pivotal role in driving business growth, strengthening client partnerships, and delivering award-winning work. These efforts contributed to MullenLowe Sri Lanka being named Creative Agency of the Year at the Campaign Agency of the Year Awards 2025, while also securing Agency of the Year and Marketer of the Year honours alongside Unilever Sri Lanka at the Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2025. As one of the youngest Associate Vice Presidents at MullenLowe Sri Lanka and among the first women to serve on its Operating Committee, Praveena has built a reputation for leadership that extends beyond business performance. Her growing list of achievements includes being recognised among the Top 50 Professional and Career Women Global Awards in 2023, reflecting a career marked by consistent excellence, while her commitment to mentoring future talent continues to contribute to greater female representation within the industry. Thayalan Bartlett, Executive Chairman of MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka, said, “Praveena’s recognition is thoroughly deserved. She has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, commercial acumen, and resilience while navigating some of the most demanding circumstances our industry has faced. Her ability to balance performance, people development, and long-term thinking has distinguished her as one of the most promising leaders of her generation.” Campaign Asia-Pacific’s 2026 cohort comprises 40 professionals representing 14 markets across the region, selected for their contributions to business growth, innovation, leadership, and industry advancement. Praveena’s inclusion marks an important milestone for Sri Lanka’s communications industry and reflects the growing impact of Sri Lankan talent on the regional stage. MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka (MLG) is Sri Lanka’s largest integrated brand communications company with nine independent strategic business verticals spanning Mainstream, Digital, Activations, MarTech, Media and Public Relations. MLG’s Sri Lanka office consists of 111 staff, serves 43 of the nation’s top corporates, manages 111 brands across 33 categories, including 80% of the top 10 and 50% of the top 20 most advertised categories in the country, making it a company with prolific cross-category knowledge. Ranked among the world’s top 100 most effective agencies and APAC’s top 20, MLG is Sri Lanka’s reigning Effie Agency of the Year, Campaign Asia’s Creative Agency of the Year for South Asia, and a consistent local and regional awards leader for over a decade. It operates as a full member affiliate of MullenLowe Group Worldwide, which was recently acquired by Omnicom. As the world’s largest marketing services group, Omnicom combines unmatched global knowledge and experience with local insight to deliver end-to-end brand solutions.
Business Ceylon Chamber re-elects Chairperson Krishan Balendra at 187th AGM
Published 5 mins agoon 2026/06/27
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce announced the re-election of Chairperson Krishan Balendra and the election of its Board for the Year 2026/27 at the Chamber’s 187th Annual General Meeting on June 25. High Commissioner of Britain to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, attended as Chief Guest. The 2026/27 office-bearers are Chairperson Krishan Balendra, – Chairperson John Keells Holdings PLC, Vice Chairperson Bingumal Thewarathanthri – CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, and Deputy Vice-Chairperson Vinod Hirdaramani – Chairman, Hirdaramani Group. Jayanthi Dharmasena – Managing Director, Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd., Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson – Chief Operating Officer, Head of APAC – 5Hour International Corporation Singapore, Shibani Thambiayah – Managing Director, Renuka Hotels PLC, Supun Weerasinghe – Director/Group CEO – Dialog Axiata PLC, and Shiran Fernando – Secretary-General and CEO will serve as Board Members. Rohana Dissanayake – Group Chairman and Managing Director of David Pieris Motor Company Pvt. Ltd. will also join the Board, replacing Bernhard Stefan – Managing Director – Nestlé Lanka PLC, who relocated overseas.
Business ‘Go Anywhere, Get Anything’: Uber arrives in Sri Lanka’s gem capital
Published 5 mins agoon 2026/06/27
Uber, Sri Lanka’s leading ride-hailing and delivery platform, announced the launch of Uber Eats and Uber Rides in Ratnapura, further expanding its footprint across the island. Residents and visitors can now access food, groceries, everyday essentials, and reliable transportation through the Uber app, while local merchants, delivery partners, and drivers gain new opportunities to grow and earn. With Uber Eats now live across a broad coverage area in the district, customers can order from iconic local favourites such as XYZ , alongside grocery and retail partners, all delivered at the tap of a button. At the same time, Uber Rides offers residents and visitors a convenient and affordable way to get around entire Ratnapura district through a range of two-, three-, and four-wheel options. Known as Sri Lanka’s gem capital, Ratnapura is home to a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, merchants, and small businesses, making it a natural next step in Uber’s expansion across Sri Lanka. Varun Wijewardane, Country Manager – Delivery, Uber Sri Lanka, said: “Ratnapura is home to a vibrant community of local businesses and entrepreneurs, and we’re excited to bring Uber Eats to the district. By connecting local merchants with more customers and creating flexible earning opportunities for delivery partners, we hope to make everyday convenience more accessible while supporting local economic growth.” Kaushalya Gunaratne, Country Manager – Mobility, Uber Sri Lanka, said: “We’re excited to bring Uber Rides to Ratnapura and make reliable, affordable mobility available to more people across the district. This launch creates new earning opportunities for local drivers while giving residents and visitors access to convenient transportation backed by technology designed to make every trip safer and more seamless.”