“ LAUGFS is one of the largest diversified business conglomerates and a trusted name in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1995, LAUGFS today has expanded across 20 industries in Sri Lanka, UAE, Bangaladesh, USA and the Netherlands, establishing a strong presence as a leader and pioneer in the power and energy, consumer retail, industrial, services, leisure and logistics sectors. ”
LAUGFS is one of the largest diversified business conglomerates and a trusted name in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1995, LAUGFS today has expanded across 20 industries in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE, USA and the Netherlands, establishing a strong presence as a leader and pioneer in the power and energy, consumer retail, industrial, services, leisure and logistics sectors.
Dr. W.K.H. Wegapitiya is the founder Chairman of LAUGFS Holdings Limited, the parent company of LAUGFS Gas PLC, one of the highly-diversified business groups in Sri Lanka, having its presence in a wide business spectrum, such as LPG distribution, petroleum, lubricants, power generation, property development, shipping, heavy engineering, automobile services, leisure and restaurants, consumer retailing, manufacturing of salt, and manufacturing of industrial solid tyres. He was appointed as the Executive Chairman and the Group CEO of LAUGFS Gas PLC at the time it was listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange in 2011. He holds a degree in (BSc) Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and obtained his MBA from the Post Graduate Institute of Management (PIM). Currently, he is reading for his PhD at the Post Graduate Institute of Management (PIM).
His entrepreneurial journey begun in 1990, starting a small freight forwarding company subsequent to a brief employment at Ceylon Shipping Corporation. Later, in 1995 he was instrumental in creating Gas Auto Lanka (Pvt) Limited, the initial enterprise of now diversified LAUGFS Holdings Limited. The visionary leadership, remarkable entrepreneurship and his extra-ordinary personal traits to withstand and overcome all adversities thrown in his way, enabled him to succeed in all his endeavours to create the business conglomerate “LAUGFS”, during a comparatively short period of time.
A popular figure in the local entrepreneurial community in Sri Lanka as a success story, he was recognised as the best entrepreneur of the country many times. He is a frequent speaker, presenter and a panelist on topics such as “Business Excellence”, “Leadership” and “Entrepreneurship” organized by a variety of organisations. He is a well-known personality in the global LP Gas and energy circles and also a regular participant and a speaker at international forums on LP Gas and Energy Management.
Dr. Wegapitiya has served on many public and private sector institutes as an honorary member of the management. He was a Board member of Sri Lanka Telecom PLC and Mobitel (Pvt) Limited, and was the past Chairman of the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE). He has also served as the former Senior Vice President of FCCISL, an Executive council member of FCCISL, an Executive Committee member of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, a member of National Pay Commission, and a Council member of University of Sri Jayawardenepura.
Mr. Thilak De Silva is a prominent industry leader, a noted philanthropist and the Deputy Chairman of LAUGFS Holdings.
One of the founding partners of LAUGFS, Mr. De Silva has been instrumental in the phenomenal growth of the company over the years. His untiring efforts, unparalleled business and industry knowledge, and remarkable charisma have made an indelible imprint in the story of the Group’s growth.
In 1995 he became part of the pioneering project that transformed the automobile industry by converting vehicles from the traditional petroleum fuels into auto gas, which became the inception of LAUGFS. This proved a phenomenal success and became the turning point that laid the foundation to create one of the largest business conglomerates in the country today, employing 3500 staff across over 20 industries.
The warm, nurturing nature of Mr. De Silva has enabled him to inspire and drive his teams into achieving many great feats, which has been pivotal to LAUGFS’s success over two decades. He is well respected for his strategic foresight, collaborative and engaging leadership style, and entrepreneurial skills that have helped withstand many challenges and build LAUGFS into a trusted and respected Sri Lankan conglomerate.
Noted for his philanthropic work, Mr. De Silva has been part of many community and national projects as well as numerous charitable causes. His contribution has extended into many areas including community development, livelihood, education as well as healthcare. Driven by a firm nationalistic pride and a strong desire to contribute towards uplifting communities, he acts as a strong advocate of making quality education more accessible for all, as a means of eliminating rural poverty and empowering communities.
Mr. De Silva completed his undergraduate studies in Engineering Technology and Business Management in London, UK. He is a regular participant in many LPG business forums conducted at various parts of the world and widely connected with industry leaders in the energy sector.
Mr. Piyadasa Kudabalage was appointed as the Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of LAUGFS Holdings Limited and all its subsidiary companies with effect from 21st May 2020. He performs the overall provision of supervisory and leading the management of all the subsidiary companies under LAUGFS Holdings Limited.
Mr. Kudabalage has an extensive and impressive career spanning well over 35 years, both in the leading and reputable public and private sector organizations in a diverse landscape of businesses across, plantation management, insurance, banking and finance, leisure and hospitality, power and energy and industrial manufacture.
Mr. Kudabalage had occupied the top-rung positions in all sectors he was engaged with. He was the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd and Canwill Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd (Hyatt Hotel Group); former Director of People’s Bank and all its subsidiaries, People’s Leasing & Finance PLC and all its subsidiaries, Seylan Bank PLC, Ceybank Asset Management Limited and Colombo Dockyard PLC; and was also the former Chairman of Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka, Ceylon Asset Management PLC and E-Channeling PLC. Presently, Mr. Kudabalage serves as the Chairman of Alerics Dairy Product (Pvt.) Limited and Piccadilly Cafe Limited. He is also carrying out a reputable audit firm as a sole proprietorship under his name. He is a well-qualified and experienced professional and also an alumni of the University of Kelaniya from where he was graduated in Business Administration and Management. Besides, he is a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and also a Fellow member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka.
In consideration of his outstanding career achievements, the “Professional Excellence Award” has been awarded to Mr. Kudabalage by the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants of Sri Lanka in year 2014 and also “Prasada Sambawana” award has been granted to him by the University of Kelaniya in year 2014 for the excellent service rendered to the government of Sri Lanka.
Mithila Wegapitiya is a Technology Entrepreneur and an innovation enthusiast stemming from a Management and Finance, Global Marketing, and Information Technology & Interactive Entertainment (Gaming) Background. Mithila has 12+ Years of Experience working in large global organizations such as Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment (London), Ve Interactive (London), Deutsche Bank (Asia) as well as Virtusa Corporation for Sri Lanka, APAC and Americas. He is also a thought leader and advocater in APAC for up-and-coming technologies such as intelligent automation and Robotic Process Automation as well as other trends such as Blockchain Technology.
In 2016 Mithila Co-Founded POTENZA, a Global Start-up focusing on Technology Consulting and Digital Transformation Services in the Areas of SAP Consulting, Data & Analytics and Intelligent Automation. With a workforce of over 85+ Consultants across the globe across 9 different countries head quartered in Singapore and Australia (JV Operation), POTENZA is a Million Dollar revenue Generating Start-Up working with some of the biggest brands in the world including that of Bombardier, Bacardi, Coles, AIA Insurance, Chip Mong and Many More.
Mithila is an undergraduate of Aston University in the UK and hold an MBA from the prestigious PIM (Postgraduate Institute of Management) In Sri Lanka. Mithila was also the Youngest Nominee in Echelon Magazines “Next Generation 100 Leaders” titled NE100 List showcasing the next generation of leaders in the country significantly impacting transformation across the private sector. Mithila Also served in the Executive Committees of SLASSCOM (Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies) Intelligent Automation Center of Excellence and served on the board of FITIS (Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka). He is also the youngest board member to serve Sri Lanka CERT|CC (Computer Emergency Readiness Team) Which is the national body for and first line of Defense for Sri Lankan Cyber Security and Cyber Threats.
Mr. R. Selvaskandan is a seasoned Attorney- at-Law (Sri Lanka) and Solicitor (England & Wales and Hong Kong) and was a senior partner of a leading law firm in Hong Kong prior to joining the property sector of the C T Holdings Group.
Currently, he serves as the Chairman of C T Land Development PLC, Deputy Chairman of C T Properties Limited and a Partner of Varners, a Law firm based in Sri Lanka. He has more than 35 years of experience in legal practice and management in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.
An award-winning innovator with an interest in innovation-driven business transformation, management, and economics, helping organizations achieve exponential performance and growth. With over 22+ years of global experience covering multiple industries including Banking & Finance, FMCG, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Leisure, Logistics, Enterprise Systems, Systems Integration and Technology Consulting, Dhanusha has helped organizations globally to transform their businesses with the adoption of technology in a meaningful manner.
In 2016, Dhanusha co-founded POTENZA, which has now grown to an award-winning global technology consultancy having its operational presence in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Australia serving its clients globally. Prior to POTENZA, Dhanusha formed and headed the Enterprise Architecture practice for London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), under its technology services division and functioned as the Chief Enterprise Architect. Also, he headed the Enterprise Software & IT Strategic Projects division of Hatton National Bank PLC, where he introduced key improvements to the digital backbone of the bank and built several technology-enabled products and services which are key components of bank’s digital transformation journey. He was also the former Group Head of Information Technology at HEMAS Holdings PLC, one of the largest diversified conglomerates in Sri Lanka, the former Enterprise Technology Specialist at Microsoft for its Southeast Asia New Markets operation, former Integrated Technology Consultant and Senior Systems Engineer at John Keells Holdings PLC.
Dhanusha is a professional member of The British Computer Society (MBCS), the Institute of Engineering Technology (MIET), UK and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (MIEEE), USA, a Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and an Enterprise Architect. He holds an MBA from the prestigious Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), of University of Sri Jayewardenepura and, has also completed postgraduate studies in Information Technology. Dhanusha is currently reading for his postgraduate qualification in Financial Economics at University of Colombo. He is an alumnus of the University of Oxford, United Kingdom where he completed his executive education in Strategic Innovation at the Saïd Business School with outstanding results.
In 2019, Dhanusha was recognized by Echelon, the premier Business Magazine in Sri Lanka as one of the Top 100 Next Generation Business Leaders of Sri Lanka and an Innovator (https://echelon.lk/ne100/). In 2020, Dhanusha was invited by SLASSCOM; the industry body for IT & BPO Sector in Sri Lanka; to be part of a seven-member Advisory Committee to formulate a National Level Strategic Plan to make Sri Lanka a global Intelligent Automation hub by 2025, as part of Sri Lanka’s Export Development Program. In 2021, Dhanusha was invited to be part of the Advisory Committee to build ICT Capacity in Sri Lanka by SLASSCOM. He is also a frequent contributor and a speaker at local, regional global business and technology forums. In year 2021, Dhanusha was invited by the Forbes Magazine (www.forbes.com) of USA to be part of its Technology Council and became the first Sri Lankan to be inducted into prestigious Forbes Technology Council.
Dhanusha currently functions as the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of POTENZA (PVT) Limited, Sri Lanka and POTENZA APAC (PTE) Limited, Singapore. Additionally, he holds the position of Executive Director / Chief Technology Officer at POTENZA ANZ, Sydney, Australia, Non-Executive / Independent Director at Kasper Global (PVT) Limited, an Embedded Automation and Machine Learning company, and Chief Technology Officer at Model Citizn, a specialised Financial Modelling and Financial Analytics company based in Melbourne, Australia. Dhanusha is also a member of the Rotary Club of Colombo West.
Laksiri Abeysekera is a Senior Fellow of the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. In this role, Laksiri is supporting ICRAF with establishing a country office as well as supporting its ongoing projects in Sri Lanka. Until June 2020, Laksiri served as the Vice-Chair of the Audit Committee of the Low-Income Investment Fund (LIIF), based in San Francisco, USA, and is currently serving as a non-executive director of the Global EverGreening Alliance, Melbourne, Australia. Laksiri has over 45 years of broad-based international experience in strategic financial management, corporate services, risk management, change management, and governance projects in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East in the not-for-profit agricultural research, banking, manufacturing, and service delivery sectors, drawing on senior-level management experience as the Deputy Director Finance and Administration of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Sri Lanka, the Deputy Director General Corporate Services of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya, and Director of the International Center for Research in Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), UAE, as well as senior positions in other public and private sector companies in Sri Lanka.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in the United Kingdom and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
Nathan Sivagananathan is a successful strategist, entrepreneur, investor and innovator from Sri Lanka. He currently runs a multi-family office in Singapore, covering investments in South Asia and South-East Asia.
He is the Co-Founder of Hatch Sri Lanka’s first integrated accelerator and incubator which supports the development of entrepreneurship and small businesses.
Prior to moving into the private equity, venture capital and entrepreneurial space, Nathan served as Chief Growth Officer and board director at South Asia’s largest apparel tech company - MAS Holdings responsible for generating new business and growth through innovation, investment and autonomation. He was a driving force in taking the company to its 2020 targeted US$ 2 billion two years ahead of schedule. During his 21-year tenure at MAS, he led many successful strategic and investment partnerships and spearheaded several local and international expansions.
Nathan also sits on various boards of leading listed corporates in insurance, investment, financial services, and real estate. He is a member of YPO, a 2015 Eisenhower Fellow and 2018 Kauffman Fellow. He was ranked no.1 in the top 40 under 40 CEOs in one of Sri Lanka’s leading business magazines.
Nathan has a unique passion for philanthropy work and co-founded the Colours of Courage Trust and Trail to raise funds to uplift cancer treatment infrastructure in Sri Lanka. He has walked the length of Sri Lanka twice in 2011 and again in 2016 harnessing the power of social media and crowdfunding raising over 14 million US dollars to build cancer facilities in the North and South of Sri Lanka through Trail. He was a 2021 YPO Global Impact Award Nominee from South Asia for his commitment to equitable access in healthcare through Trail.
Nathan has a broad range of Education in the UK and USA including Columbia Business School and Harvard Business School.
He enjoys sports and outdoor activities, particularly golf.
Shalinda De Silva is a supply chain enthusiast with a strong background in manufacturing, strategic procurement, international business, international compliant product/packaging development, sales and operations planning and logistics. Shalinda has experience at large multinationals in project management, demand forecasting, international sales & marketing covering EU Region, United Kingdom, Australia, Papua New Guinea, North America, Japan, India, Singapore, Jamaica and Middle Eastern markets.
In 2018 Shalinda commenced his first entrepreneurial venture - STAY Naturals Private Limited. A Board Of Investment (BOI) company engaged in the manufacture and export of flavours, fragrances, actives and nutraceuticals. Being involved in the incubation period of the company, from setting up manufacturing facilities to plant commissioning, participating in international trade fairs and exhibitions for overseas market expansion, Shalinda has gathered extensive knowledge and firm understanding on commodity market dynamics, supply chain optimization, supply chain risk mitigation and building lasting relationships with the customers he serves.
Shalinda holds a Bachelors in Business Administration & Operations from the Australian National University (ANU) and a Masters in Strategic Supply Chain Management from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Contributing to academia he has published journal articles relating to supply chain risk mitigation in International Journal of Emerging Markets, under the title “Examining Risks and Strategies for the Spice Processing Supply Chain in the Context of an Emerging Economy”.
