Watawala Dairy Limited Chief Executive Officer Binesh Pananwala was
unanimously elected the new President of the All Island Dairy Association (AIDA) at the private
sector body’s third Annual General Meeting, which was held virtually.
Pananwala replaces Founding President and Richlife Dairy Private Limited Chief Executive
Officer Nishantha Jayasooriya, who held the post for four years. Pananwala previously served
the association in the capacity of Vice President.
Counting more than 30 years of experience in the plantations sector, Pananwala started as a
Trainee Assistant Superintendent under Janatha Estates Development Board. After that, he has
been engaged with Watawala Plantations PLC over the last three decades, climbing the ladder
to hold his current position as Chief Executive Officer. He also functions as the Chairman of
the Plantation Services Group of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon. Pananwala holds an MSc
in Crop Science from the University of Peradeniya and an MBA from the Manipal (Sikkim)
University. He has undergone extensive higher management training at the National University
of Singapore and Center for Creative Leadership – Singapore.
Addressing the AGM following his election, the new President thanked the immediate past
president and past committee members for navigating the dairy industry through a particularly
challenging period. He went onto outline AIDA’s continuing efforts to focus and impact in its
advocacy of key issues of importance to the membership, affiliated associations and the public
sector.
“As AIDA, we will continue to maintain a progressive public-private dialogue on matters about
the advancement of the local dairy sector. Adapting to the New Normal, the AIDA continued
to maintain its impact unfazed by the physical engagement restrictions accruing from the pandemic. We have successfully executed a broad spectrum of policy-related and knowledge
transferring related activities using virtual formats, including webinars and virtual interactions.
We will continue to facilitate broader engagement with the private sector and sustain a policy
dialogue with the government on matters about dairy sector development,” said Pananwala
during his inaugural speech.
Affiliated to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the All Island Dairy Association serves as the
central representative for the dairy industry, facilitating consensus, streamlining objectives and
industrial mobilisation, and lobbying with policymakers on key issues. AIDA, comprising the
entire spectrum of dairy manufacturers and service providers, promotes adherence to high
industry standards and facilitates healthy competition to enhance product and service offerings
and benefit the industry as a whole.
Newly appointed office bearers for the year 2022 are Binesh Pananwala (President), Dr.
Shakthivale (Vice President – Producers and Collectors), Tan Beng Chuan (Vice President –
Service Providers), Renuka Perera (Vice President – Manufacturers and Processors), and
R.M.K.G. Rajapaksha (Treasurer). The Executive Committee members for 2022 are Nishantha
Jayasooriya, Dr. Nelum Vithana, Mohamed Imtiyaz, Damitha Mapa, Aruna Warnasooriya and
A.C.H. Munaweera.
