Yasas Hewage officially took on the role of Chairman of the Industrial Development Board (IDB) on June 1, 2026. He has stepped into the leadership position of one of Sri Lanka’s most established institutions dedicated to enterprise development, which has a commendable history of 60 years.
With nearly two decades of expertise in various fields, including banking, finance, business strategy, entrepreneurship, sales and marketing, as well as sports tourism, Hewage is well-equipped for this role. Before his current appointment, he worked as the Private Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development.
In addition to his new role, he is actively involved in several national initiatives, such as the SME Nexus Initiative, the team responsible for developing the National SME Strategy Framework, and the Institutional Transformation Leadership Team, which is focused on forming the proposed Entrepreneurship and Industry Transformation Authority (EITA).
Throughout his banking career at HSBC and NDB Bank, Hewage held significant leadership positions in areas such as retail banking, SME business development, strategy, and branch operations. At NDB Bank, he played a key role in driving business transformation and strategic initiatives aimed at boosting growth, competitiveness, and customer engagement.
Hewage is also recognized for his contributions to entrepreneurship development and executive coaching, having collaborated with thousands of entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and professionals throughout Sri Lanka.
Upon his appointment, Hewage highlighted the importance of ushering in a new era of industrial excellence for Sri Lanka. He believes that the country should draw from its historical successes while also embracing modern technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. “Sri Lanka’s industrial transformation must be founded on a profound respect for our history and a daring vision for the future,” he remarked, emphasizing that the nation’s rich legacy in engineering and manufacturing should lay the groundwork for upcoming industrial advancements.
Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
