Connect to Care registers as NGO, strengthens governance to scale national development impact

Connect to Care (CTC) Consulting announced a significant step in its institutional evolution, with its official registration as a Voluntary Social Services/Non-Governmental Organisation under the Voluntary Social Services Organisations (Registration & Supervision) Act No. 31 of 1980, as amended.

The registration marks a major milestone for Connect to Care Consulting as it strengthens its mandate, governance and institutional capacity to support Sri Lanka’s development priorities through practical implementation, cross-sector collaboration and measurable impact.

As part of this transition, Connect to Care Consulting has also completed a comprehensive governance and institutional strengthening programme, aimed at reinforcing transparency, accountability, financial stewardship and programme delivery across the organisation.

Operating at the intersection of government, development partners, academia, civil society and the private sector, Connect to Care Consulting supports institutions in translating policy priorities into practical programmes and sustainable outcomes. Its work spans key national development areas including Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), digital agriculture, health innovation, nutrition, institutional strengthening and public sector transformation.

The organisation’s strengthened structure comes at a time when Sri Lanka is increasingly focused on effective implementation, institutional reform, digital transformation and evidence-based development delivery. Through its expanded governance framework and upgraded operating systems, Connect to Care Consulting is positioning itself as a trusted implementation and coordination platform for complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.

As part of its governance transformation, Connect to Care Consulting has appointed Rehan Anthonis, Anjali Nayyar and Dhamitha Cooke to its Board. Rehan Anthonis, Senior Director – People Operations at Sysco LABS Sri Lanka, brings over 25 years of leadership experience in organisational transformation, talent strategy, people operations and corporate governance across multinational organisations.

Anjali Nayyar, Executive Vice President at Global Health Strategies, brings more than two decades of international leadership experience across Asia and Africa, with deep expertise in public health, policy, strategic advocacy, partnerships and programme leadership.

Dhamitha Cooke, a senior finance and business transformation leader with over 45 years of experience across banking, aviation, capital markets and diversified conglomerates, strengthens the organisation’s expertise in governance, financial stewardship and institutional transformation.

Further reinforcing its governance framework, Laksiri Abeysekera has been appointed Strategic Advisor – Governance, Institutional Strengthening & Financial Management. In this role, he will provide strategic oversight across governance, financial management, organisational systems, risk management and institutional effectiveness. Laksiri is a senior finance and operations professional with over 40 years of international experience in strategic financial management, corporate governance, and institutional development. His career spans leadership roles across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including at two CGIAR Centres—the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF)—as well as the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).

In addition to these appointments, Connect to Care Chairman Chandita Samaranayake and Lakshi Nethicumara will remain as board members. Together, the strengthened Board and advisory structure bring independent oversight, strategic leadership and sectoral depth to support Connect to Care Consulting’s next phase of growth and national impact.

To further strengthen transparency and accountability, Connect to Care Consulting has invested in enterprise-grade management systems across finance, governance and programme delivery. The organisation has implemented Microsoft Dynamics to enhance financial management, donor accountability and financial transparency, while Asana has been adopted as its enterprise programme management platform to track deliverables, monitor outcomes and strengthen institutional accountability.

These systems provide real-time visibility across programme implementation and financial performance, enabling stronger governance, better coordination and more measurable results.

“This milestone represents much more than a change in institutional status. It reflects our commitment to building a stronger, more accountable and more trusted organisation that can help deliver complex, high-impact development initiatives,” said Emaali Gunasekara, Chief Executive Officer of Connect to Care Consulting. “By strengthening our governance, expanding our leadership, modernising our systems and reinforcing accountability, we are investing in the institutional capacity needed to translate national priorities into sustainable outcomes for the people of Sri Lanka.”

Connect to Care Consulting plays a bridging role between strategy and implementation, helping governments and partners design practical programmes, align stakeholders, coordinate delivery and strengthen the systems required to sustain long-term change. Its approach is focused on ensuring that national priorities do not remain at policy level, but are converted into tangible outcomes that improve lives and strengthen institutions.

With its NGO registration, strengthened governance framework and enhanced management systems, Connect to Care Consulting commits to serve as a platform that connects strategy with execution, partnerships with action, and innovation with measurable impact. Furthermore, CTC is establishing a global Advisory Panel and expert network to support Sri Lanka’s national priorities through the “GiveBack” initiative, enabling accomplished Sri Lankans at home and abroad to contribute their expertise towards nation-building.