Nimal Gunewardena takes over PRASL leadership with top team

From left: Board Members Rajiv David, Bimsara Palihakkara, Assistant Secretary Cathy Chang, Treasurer Anjuu Bakshani, Secretary Ashan Jayatilake, President Nimal Gunewardena, Nevindee Amarasinghe, Uma Rajamantri, Sheranga Rajasuriya and Nadiya de Lanerolle Absent: VP Shehara de Silva, Kithunika Nawalage and Advisers Rezani Aziz and Ashan Kumar

• Seeks due recognition of PR as a vital strategic communications discipline 

Nimal Gunewardena

At its second Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on April 21, Nimal Gunewardena, a veteran in PR and IMC was elected to the role of President of the PR industry body, the Public Relations Association of Sri Lanka (PRASL), along with a high calibre board of agency and corporate comms leaders. 

A Founder Director of the PRASL, established in 2023, Gunewardena opted to pivot from his previous role as Advisor to the Board, in order to build stronger credentials and recognition for the profession. 

Nimal is a 50+ year veteran in communications and marketing, having led the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing and Accredited Advertising Agencies Association in the ‘90s. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK (FCIM) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations UK (MCIPR). During a recent visit to Sri Lanka, CIPR President Farzana Baduel dubbed him Sri Lanka’s “Godfather of PR”.

Gunewardena stated, “PR practice has existed in Sri Lanka for over 30 years but still remains a misunderstood and underrated profession while it can play a vital role in driving government initiatives and safeguarding corporate reputations. My focus is to gain due recognition for PR as a strategic communications discipline with greater use for initiatives such as digital and energy transformation, FDI growth, environmental sustainability, social cohesion and ‘Clean Sri Lanka’.”  

Joined by experienced practitioners on the PRASL board, the high-calibre team of new and existing members has some clear areas that it will seek to develop in the coming year – including widening the membership with greater engagement and networking, enhancing essential skills, standards and ethics in the industry, supporting SMEs which account for over half of the nation’s GDP and showing how PR can play a role in meeting the emerging challenges posed by AI, rise of fake news and need for public attitude and behaviour change and in meeting social and environmental goals.