The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors held its 2026 Corporate Director Summit in Colombo, bringing together over 350 business leaders to discuss how boards can navigate technological change and move beyond compliance toward sustainable growth.
The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors convened more than 350 board directors, senior business leaders and governance professionals at the Corporate Director Summit 2026, held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo on August 8. The event, organised with Deloitte Sri Lanka as strategic partner, marked the institute's 25th anniversary of advancing corporate governance standards in the country. International thought leaders participated alongside local speakers to address pressing issues shaping modern boardrooms.
Technological transformation emerged as a central theme throughout the summit. Duleesha Kulasooriya, Asia Pacific Innovation Leader at Deloitte, delivered the keynote address on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity governance, arguing that organisations face significant risks by failing to adopt emerging technologies. He stressed that competitive advantage stems not from technology alone, but from leadership qualities including curiosity, curation and courage, alongside effective governance structures that enable responsible innovation.
Beyond technology, the summit explored how boards can transcend their traditional compliance role to provide strategic leadership. Sessions addressed workforce strategy, employee wellbeing and organisational culture as critical boardroom priorities, particularly as companies respond to skills shortages and changing employment expectations. Regional perspectives from Deloitte leaders emphasised the importance of clear communication, stakeholder trust and independent judgment in helping organisations navigate economic uncertainty and build resilience.
Organisers highlighted that as Sri Lankan organisations face evolving economic, technological and societal pressures, forward-looking board leadership will remain essential for maintaining stakeholder confidence and creating sustainable long-term value.
