Smart Quest Coaching & Consulting (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka’s leading integrated firm in people development, is commemorating its 20th anniversary during the ICF International Coaching Week 2026. The company has made significant contributions in the areas of leadership training, professional coaching certification, and HR consultancy since its inception.
Founded in 2006 by Andrea Jayatilleka, Smart Quest was established with the conviction that individuals are fundamental to an organization’s success. Andrea’s background as an economics educator highlighted the disparity between the potential of Sri Lankan university graduates and the challenges they faced in the job market, prompting her to create a platform to bridge this gap through career guidance and skills development.
Inspired by her father, Claude Baldsing, who was affiliated with E. B Creasy & Company, Andrea emphasized the importance of people as the core drivers of any organization. Claude joined Smart Quest five years after its founding, contributing his extensive corporate experience and reinforcing the firm’s mission.
Over the past two decades, Smart Quest has transformed from a people-focused HR service provider into a prominent name in Sri Lanka’s leadership development and organizational consulting sectors. The firm has collaborated with over 300 organizations across more than 20 industries, successfully nurturing over 10,000 leaders.
The growth and development of Smart Quest were further enhanced by the leadership of Jayantha Fernando and Anil Bandara, who joined Andrea as Directors during the company’s early years. Anil has continued to serve as a Director, leveraging his commercial insights and strategic approach to fortify Smart Quest’s market presence.
Uniquely positioned in Sri Lanka, Smart Quest integrates leadership training, ICF-accredited coaching certification, and HR consultancy into a single offering. This comprehensive approach allows the firm to support organizations throughout their entire people development journey, from building capabilities to providing coaching certification and HR advisory services.
Andrea Jayatilleka continues to lead Smart Quest’s training initiatives, now joined by Murshid Munshif as Lead Facilitator, enhancing the firm’s commitment to leadership training and development for the future.
A key aspect of Smart Quest’s influence has been its role in fostering Sri Lanka’s professional coaching landscape. In collaboration with Coach Masters Academy Global, founded by Dr. Ben Koh—one of the first 500 Master Certified Coaches globally—Smart Quest has trained over 400 certified coaches, the largest number produced by any organization in Sri Lanka.
Notably, around 70% of the 55 active ICF-credentialed coaches in Sri Lanka received their qualifications through Smart Quest and Coach Masters Academy. Andrea Jayatilleka also holds the position of South Asia Programme Director at Coach Masters Academy, further enhancing the standards of professional coaching in the region.
In a significant development, seasoned HR professional Oshana Dias has joined Smart Quest as Chief Operating Officer. With two decades of experience in HR and her own coaching background, Oshana’s appointment is expected to fortify the operational framework of Smart Quest as it seeks to broaden its people development services beyond Sri Lanka.
Reflecting on this significant milestone, Andrea Jayatilleka remarked, “Two decades ago, this journey began with a dialogue, a strong belief, and my father’s conviction that people are the cornerstone of any organization. That belief remains unchanged. Every leader we have developed, every coach we have certified, and every organization we have supported is an integral part of our narrative. This anniversary is a celebration of all of you.”
As Smart Quest embarks on its next chapter, it is poised with a robust leadership team, aspirations for regional expansion, and a steadfast commitment to cultivating purpose-driven individuals and organizations.
Image Caption: From left: Smart Quest Founding Director and South Asia Coach Masters Academy Director Andrea Jayatilleka, Director Anil Bandara, COO Oshana Dias, and Lead Facilitator Murshid Munshif.
Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
