The Sri Lanka Retailers’ Association (SLRA) has elected a new leadership team for 2026/27, with Director of Healthguard Pharmacy Ltd, Infiyaz M. Ali, taking over as President following the Association’s 9th Annual General Meeting.
The AGM was held on June 23 at Hilton Colombo Residencies, bringing together members of the organized retail sector to review the Association’s performance during the 2025/26 financial year and outline priorities for the year ahead.
During the meeting, members adopted the Annual Report and Audited Accounts for 2025/26 before electing the Office Bearers and Executive Council for the 2026–2027 term.
Mahesh Wijewardena, Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC, was elected Senior Vice President, while Kumar De Silva, Chief Executive Officer of SPAR SL Private Ltd, was elected Vice President.
The newly appointed Executive Council includes senior representatives from leading retail businesses across the country, reflecting the Association’s broad representation of the organised retail industry.
Focus on Retail Growth and Industry Collaboration
Addressing members after his election, President Infiyaz M. Ali said the Association will continue promoting collaboration, innovation and stronger industry advocacy.
“Retail continues to be one of the most dynamic sectors of the Sri Lankan economy. As consumer expectations evolve and technology reshapes the industry, the role of SLRA is to create opportunities for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and collective action,” he said.
He added that the Association remains committed to supporting its members while contributing to the sustainable growth of the country’s retail ecosystem.
The retail sector is one of the country’s largest employers, spanning supermarkets, pharmacies, fashion retailers, consumer electronics, FMCG businesses and digital commerce platforms.
Government Calls for Stronger Public-Private Partnership
Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe attended the AGM as Chief Guest.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister described the retail industry as an important contributor to economic growth, employment and consumer welfare.
He also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector to improve the competitiveness of the retail industry.
Members also heard from Frontier Research Head of Macroeconomic Advisory Chayu Damsinghe, who shared insights into the country’s economic outlook, emerging business trends and the opportunities and challenges facing the private sector.
Retail Forum 2026 to Bring Together Industry Leaders
A key announcement during the AGM was the upcoming Sri Lanka Retail Forum 2026, which will be held under the theme “Retail Without Boundaries – Building the Next Growth Engine.”
The event is expected to attract more than 500 retailers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, technology providers, investors and industry leaders to discuss the future of retail.
The Association also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting retailers through policy advocacy, professional development programmes and knowledge-sharing initiatives designed to improve innovation and business growth.
Since its establishment in 2015, SLRA has represented retailers across FMCG, fashion, healthcare, consumer electronics and digital commerce, providing a unified platform to address industry challenges and opportunities.
With its newly elected leadership, the Association aims to deepen engagement with members while working closely with policymakers and industry stakeholders to strengthen the retail sector and contribute to broader economic development.
Last modified: June 26, 2026
