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Krishani
Krishani
Nov 02 2026
29The Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) concluded its “I AM” Leadership Forum 2026 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo last week, bringing together entrepreneurs and business leaders for an evening of personal stories, shared experience and dialogue on leadership. The event was made possible by principle sponsor, Nations Trust Bank, along with print media sponsors, DailyFT and The Sunday Times.
Held under the theme “My Story. My Journey”, the forum reflected COYLE’s broader vision for 2026 of “Bridging Generations. Building Futures”, creating space for established and emerging entrepreneurs to learn from one another.
Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and keynote speaker. His participation brought an international dimension to the forum and underscored the value of dialogue between the diplomatic and business communities.
In his welcome address, COYLE Chairman Suren Chandraratna challenged participants to consider the question at the heart of the forum: “Who am I?” Drawing on his own experience as a panellist the previous year, he described the ‘I AM’ platform as an opportunity to reflect on what entrepreneurs have achieved, overcome and become. “When a person discovers their ‘I AM’, they stop being defined by where they come from, what others said they could be, or limitations placed upon them. They begin to see not just who they are today, but who they can become tomorrow,” he said.
Chandraratna also placed entrepreneurial development at the centre of Sri Lanka’s economic future. “We believe that it is the Sri Lankan entrepreneurs who can unlock the golden opportunities that our economy has,” he said, emphasising COYLE’s role in empowering entrepreneurs to discover their potential and share experiences that can inspire others.
The forum featured panelists Sensa Solutions Managing Director Subash Thalangama, Tudawe Brothers CEO Romali Tudawe, and hSenid Group of Companies Founder/Chairman Dinesh Saparamadu, in a discussion moderated by Dr.Tharindu Ameresekera. Bringing perspectives from different businesses and industries, the speakers placed their personal journeys at the centre of the conversation.
Their experiences opened up a discussion about the demands of entrepreneurship: making difficult decisions, navigating uncertainty, responding to setbacks and finding the resolve to move forward. For participants, the value lay in connecting these experiences with the challenges and choices in their own businesses.
The theme “My Story. My Journey” gave the evening a clear focus. Every business is shaped by people, and every leader carries lessons that others can learn from. Creating opportunities to share those lessons is central to building stronger connections between generations of entrepreneurs.
COYLE Committee Chairman Raveen Wickramasinghe delivering the vote of thanks said, “The true value of this forum will be measured by what we do next, how we apply what we have learnt, support another entrepreneur and turn a new connection into an opportunity. Each story shared tonight reminds us that experience becomes more powerful when it helps someone else move forward. Let us carry that spirit into our businesses and help more Sri Lankan entrepreneurs succeed.”
The ‘I AM’ Leadership Forum 2026 reinforced COYLE’s commitment to developing a business community in which experience is shared and emerging leaders have access to those who have navigated the journey before them. Its purpose extended beyond a single evening: to encourage entrepreneurs to carry those lessons into the decisions they make, the businesses they build and the people they lead.
