Watawala Plantations PLC appoints Reyaz Mihular as Chairman and bids farewell to Sunil G. Wijesinha

Watawala Plantations PLC announced the appointment of Reyaz Mihular as the Chairman, succeeding Sunil G. Wijesinha, who is stepping down after completing a long tenure of 12 years with the company.

Reyaz Mihular is an accomplished professional in the financial and corporate sectors, having held various significant senior management roles throughout his career. He served as Managing Partner of KPMG Sri Lanka & Maldives from 2012 to 2022 and chaired KPMG's Middle East & South Asia Regional Cluster, where he also acted as Chief Operating Officer. Mihular's expertise spans both in accounting and management, as reflected in his presidency and fellowship at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.

Presently, Mihular, holds directorships at various PLCs, including Watawala Plantations PLC and Sunshine Holdings PLC. He is a Commissioner at the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and a member of the Stakeholder Engagement Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Outgoing Chairman Sunil G. Wijesinha has served on the boards of both Watawala Plantations PLC and Watawala Dairy Ltd. for the last 12 years. In September 2023, he was honoured with the ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ by the Government of Japan, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening economic relations and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and Sri Lanka.

His tenure as Chairman at Watawala Plantations saw significant strides, marked by the implementation of the 5S system and various Japanese work methodologies. Wijesinha's active involvement in wage discussions at EFC meetings and his role as an advisor, conducting workshops and leadership training programs, highlighted his commitment to corporate excellence. After nearly 12 years of dedicated service and hands-on management, Wijesinha retires as Chairman, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and strategic guidance amidst challenges.

Watawala Plantations PLC warmly welcomes Reyaz Mihular, wishing him success in achieving new organizational milestones under his guidance, while bidding a heartfelt farewell to Sunil G. Wijesinha for his committed service and leadership to the organization.

Image Caption:

L to R: Reyaz Mihular, incoming chairman, and Sunil G. Wijesinha, outgoing chairman of Watawala Plantations PLC

About Watawala Plantations PLC:

A joint venture between Sunshine Holdings PLC and Pyramid Wilmar Plantations Pvt Ltd., Watawala Plantations PLC (CSE: WATA) is a diversified agribusiness company in Sri Lanka with a focus on palm oil cultivation and dairy. The company manages a total land extent of over 3,400 Ha in Palm Oil with a workforce of over 1,500 people, which makes it the largest Palm Oil plantation in Sri Lanka with an annual production of 13,500 MT of Palm Oil. As of 31 March 2023, the Company sustained a market share of approx. 54% of production in Sri Lanka. Watawala Plantations follows the highest international cultivation and sustainability standards and is the only Oil Palm plantation management company in South Asia to receive the coveted Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. The ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety) certification received by our palm oil mill, meanwhile, attests to our approach to worker safety.