ECONOMYNEXT – Ravi Edirisinghe has been appointed director and chief executive in Sri Lanka of GAC Group, a global logistics provider that is eyeing opportunities in outsourcing and logistics in the island.
Edirisinghe brings to his new role 27 years of knowledge and experience in strategic planning, business development and re-engineering, supply chain management, logistics, and project management in diverse industries, a statement said.
He is responsible for the strategic growth and business direction of the group comprising GAC Shipping Ltd, GAC Marine Services Pvt Ltd and GAC Logistics Ltd. GAC operates with its partner the McLarens Group.
Edirisinghe replaces Mahesh Kurukulasuriya, who continues to be a member of the group’s board of directors.
Lars Bergström, GAC’s Group Vice President, Asia Pacific and Indian Subcontinent, said his appointment comes against the backdrop of an optimistic outlook for Sri Lanka’s maritime and logistics sectors.
“We see opportunities in the areas of outsourcing and e-commerce and are ready to tap into them with our Spectra integrated logistics facility in the Muthurajawela Industrial Zone.
“Sri Lanka’s proximity to the emerging markets in South Asia makes it an important shipping and transhipment hub for the region,” he said.
“There is potential for growth for the country’s logistics industry – it currently contributes about 3% of its gross domestic product, but that figure is expected to rise to at least 10% by 2020.
(COLOMBO, March 25, 2019-SB)