CMTA appoints Andrew Perera as Chairman

Executive Committee Members 2025/26

Seated from left: Immediate Past Chairman Charaka Perera, CMTA Senior Vice Chairman Lakmal De Silva – David Pieris Motor Co Ltd, Senake Amerasinghe – CarMart Ltd, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman Bingumal Thewarathanthri – chief guest, CMTA Chairman Andrew Perera – KIA Motors Ltd, CMTA Vice Chairman Shalain De Silva – United Motors Lanka PLC, Bri Ponnambalam – McLarens Lubricants (Pvt.) Ltd and Reeza Rauf – Senok Trade Combine (Pvt.) Ltd

Standing from left: Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Secretariat Manager Sayuni Tharumila, Tarindra Kaluperuma – Stafford Motor Co Ltd, Rajitha Kariyawasam – Drive-One (Pvt.) Ltd, Andre Bonthuys – Associated Motorways (Pvt.) Ltd, Shaneesh Ratnaweerage – Access Motors (Pvt.) Ltd, Dinesh Guneratne – IWS Holdings Ltd, Tharanga Gunawardena – Diesel & Moto Engineering PLC, Mano Atukorala – Toyota Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd and Rohan Casiechetty – Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association

The Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA), one of South Asia’s oldest automotive associations, recently hosted its 105th Annual General Meeting (AGM), at Hilton Residencies, Colombo. 

The event was attended by distinguished stakeholders from across the automative industry and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman Bingumal Thewarathanthri was the chief guest and keynote speaker.  

Thewarathanthri addressed the gathering, highlighting the fact that the automobile industry has been advocating for the creation of a Single Window platform for years and further stated, “We urgently need such a platform to ensure the trade is tracked properly. It would streamline the automobile trade by connecting banks, Customs, importers, exporters, logistic agencies and shipping lines. Improved compliance and reduced opportunities for fraud or errors will lead to increased tax and duty collection.

The creation of a Single Window is estimated to take about two years, with a projected cost ranging from US $ 20 million to US $ 80 million.” 

He added, “The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has held discussions with Pakistan and has also received proposals from certain mature markets on this initiative. Though the government is committed to the Single Window initiative, it has not taken significant steps towards its implementation so far. Allowing trade-based money laundering to persist could have catastrophic results for the country.”

One of the main focal points of the AGM was the prevalent need to revitalise the automative industry, in the wake of the relaxation of vehicle import restrictions. 

The AGM saw the appointment of Kia Motors (Lanka) Limited Managing Director Andrew Perera as the new Chairman for the association, for the year 2025/2026.  

Additionally, Lakmal De Silva and Shalain De Dilva were nominated as Vice Chairmen of the CMTA for the year 2025/2026. 

Perera, who was previously Interim Chairman of the CMTA, brings with him a fresh, future-centric agenda shaped by resilience and renewed purpose. During his address to guests and members of the association, Perera spoke extensively about the six core focus areas. 

He stated, “It is my firm commitment not only to preserve the CMTA’s rich legacy but to build upon it with a renewed sense of purpose.”