Exceptional international and Sri Lankan leaders to examine how boards must move from compliance to sustainable growth

The world is changing faster than ever before, and the responsibility placed on corporate boards has never been greater.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries. Cybersecurity threats continue to escalate. Geopolitical uncertainty, economic volatility and supply chain disruptions are testing business resilience, while sustainability, stakeholder expectations and digital transformation are redefining how organisations create long-term value. In this environment, boards are expected not only to ensure compliance but also to provide strategic leadership that drives innovation, resilience and sustainable growth.

Against this backdrop, the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) will host the Sri Lanka Corporate Director Summit 2026 on 22 July 2026 at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo under the theme "Future-Ready Sri Lankan Directors – From Compliance to Sustainable Growth."

Recognised as Sri Lanka's premier boardroom leadership event, the Summit will bring together an exceptional line-up of internationally renowned business leaders, governance experts, academics and leading Sri Lankan directors to address one defining question:

Are today's boards equipped not merely to govern organisations, but to lead them confidently into an increasingly uncertain future?

Headlining the Summit is H.E. Mohamed Nasheed, former President and Speaker of the Maldives, who will share his perspectives on sustainability, resilience and the growing importance of environmental, social and governance considerations in shaping long-term corporate success.

Joining him is Prof. Selva Pankaj, internationally respected entrepreneur and Group Chairman of Regent Global, who will explore how boards can lead innovation while balancing governance, risk and sustainable growth. Drawing on decades of international business and technology leadership, he will provide practical insights into leading organisations through disruption.

Innovation and emerging technologies will be a key focus with Duleesha Kulasooriya, Asia Pacific Innovation Leader and Managing Director at Deloitte's Center for the Edge. Recognised globally for helping organisations anticipate disruption and identify future growth opportunities, he will challenge directors to consider whether governance frameworks are evolving quickly enough to keep pace with artificial intelligence and rapidly changing business models.

Providing further insight into technology governance is Prof. Harin Sellahewa, Professor of Computing and Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Law and Psychology at the University of Buckingham. His session will examine why directors must understand the strategic, legal and ethical implications of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity as these issues become central to board oversight.

The Summit will also feature Priyan Fernando, an internationally respected corporate leader and board advisor with extensive experience across Asia, the Middle East and Europe, sharing practical insights on transformation, strategy and leading organisations through uncertainty.

Recognising that people remain at the heart of organisational success, Himanshu Priyadarshi, Partner and Associate Director, People Strategy at Boston Consulting Group, will discuss how boards should oversee workforce transformation, leadership capability and organisational resilience in an AI-driven economy.

The future of leadership development will be explored by Prof. Deba Bardhan Correia, Dean at the University of Buckingham, while Rajiv Krishnan, Managing Director and CEO of Ma Foi Strategic Consultants and Ma Foi Education Services, will examine why talent, culture and productivity have become strategic boardroom priorities.

Complementing these international experts will be an outstanding line-up of Sri Lanka's leading chairpersons, directors, CEOs, regulators and governance professionals, creating a platform where global best practices meet the realities facing Sri Lankan boardrooms.

Rather than a traditional conference, the Summit has been designed as a day of dynamic boardroom conversations. Across four focused sessions and a concluding Fireside Chat, delegates will debate the issues reshaping governance and corporate leadership.

Among the questions to be explored are whether compliance has begun to overshadow strategy, how much directors need to understand artificial intelligence before digital illiteracy becomes a governance risk, whether organisational culture can destroy enterprise value before financial performance reflects it, and how boards can strengthen innovation, productivity and resilience while maintaining stakeholder trust.

The Summit will conclude with a Fireside Chat on "Building Future-Ready Sri Lankan Boards – The Road Ahead,"bringing together senior business leaders to discuss the leadership mindset and governance priorities that will define the next generation of Sri Lankan boardrooms.

As Sri Lanka looks towards renewed economic growth and greater global competitiveness, the quality of board leadership will become one of the country's greatest competitive advantages.

The question facing every organisation is no longer simply whether its board is compliant.

The question is whether it is truly future-ready.

The Sri Lanka Corporate Director Summit 2026 will take place on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, from 9.00 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo. Registrations are now open. Call: 076 545 4279

Email: events@slid.lk