Sri Lanka Telecom appoints Riyaaz Rasheed as new CEO

Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT) announced the appointment of Riyaaz Rasheed as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 1 January 2026, the company announced in a filing to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE).

Rasheed’s appointment was approved by the Board of Directors on 24 October 2025.

With a professional career spanning over 34 years, Rasheed brings 29 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, having held leadership positions in subsidiaries of global giants including Millicom International Cellular SA (Luxembourg), Emirates Telecommunication Group PJSC (Etisalat), and CK Hutchison Group (Hutchison).

He began his career at Ernst & Young and has since held several senior management roles, including Acting CEO and Chief Financial Officer of Robi Axiata PLC in Bangladesh, Deputy CEO of Hutchison Telecommunications Sri Lanka, and Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer of Etisalat Sri Lanka. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of Celltel Lanka Limited and Tigo Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

Before venturing into telecommunications, Rasheed worked with the Hayleys Group’s Dipped Products PLC for over three years.

Rasheed holds a Master of Business Administration from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Pure Sciences. He is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) (FCMA UK), a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), and a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants of Sri Lanka 

(FCMA SL).