CA Sri Lanka’s inaugural Sustainability Summit mobilises corporate sector for resilient growth

Tishan Subasinghe

Azusa Kubota

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently launched its inaugural Sustainability Summit at Cinnamon Life, drawing an unprecedented gathering of corporate leaders including C-suite executives, board members, regulators, and global sustainability experts.
Held under the theme “Leading with a Sustainable Mindset: Building Resilience in an Uncertain World,” the summit marked a defining moment in positioning the accountancy profession as a key driver of Sri Lanka’s sustainable transformation.
The event brought together global partners, corporate leaders, regulators, and members of the accounting profession. The strong corporate presence signalled that sustainability has evolved from a compliance requirement into a boardroom priority.
The event was by Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative of UNDP Sri Lanka, who attended as Chief Guest and delivered the keynote address titled “From Strong Governance and Transparent Disclosure to Green Finance and Resilient Growth.” 
CA Sri Lanka President Tishan Subasinghe, Vice President  Anoji De Silva, Chairman of the Sustainability Summit Ashane Jayasekara, Chairman of the Summit Technical Committee  Suranga Indunil, and Chief Executive Officer Lakmali Priyangika were also in attendance.
Subasinghe set the tone stating that sustainability is no longer a peripheral consideration; it has become a defining force shaping national resilience, economic competitiveness, and long-term stability. 
“For Sri Lanka, at a pivotal inflection point marked by escalating climate risks, shifting global capital flows, and the imperatives of economic transformation, the decisions made today by organisations and professionals will determine the nation’s trajectory for generations to come.”
 He further emphasised the importance of responsible leadership, stating: “Sri Lanka’s corporate sector, professional bodies, and regulatory institutions must act in alignment, embedding sustainability into strategy, disclosure, and governance in line with the expectations of an increasingly interconnected and discerning global community.
The Knowledge Partners of the CA Sri Lanka Sustainability Summit were the Colombo Stock Exchange, Deloitte Sri Lanka, and EY Sri Lanka.
The summit featured two impactful sessions designed to deliver practical and strategic insights. Session 1 focused on “Leading with a Sustainable Mindset – Understanding Risk and Building Resilience in an Uncertain World”, while Session 2 explored “How IFRS S1 and S2 Shift Sustainability Reporting from Compliance to Credibility, and How that Credibility Shapes Investor Confidence, Regulatory Oversight, and Board Accountability.”
A panel discussion followed, with insights shared by Dulani Sirisena, Senior Economist at UNDP; Rohan Fernando, Director of the Group Board at Aitken Spence PLC; and Prins Perera, Senior Vice President and Head of Treasury at DFCC Bank, who contributed perspectives on sustainability finance, governance, and strategy.
 Session 2 was opened by Sharath Martin, Senior Policy Consultant, Asia Pacific, ACCA, and Arina Kok, Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader at EY Asia Pacific. This was followed by a panel discussion featuring Mohan Thanthirige, Senior Vice President and Group Financial Controller at John Keells Holdings PLC; Prashani Illangasekera, General Manager, Group ESG at Hayleys PLC; and Sampath Jayawardena, Senior Director at EY Sri Lanka.