Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) is a unique organization in the Tea World
Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) is a unique organization in the Tea World
Chairman
Chairman
Mr. Prabath Chandrakeerthi, the Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure of Sri Lanka, assumed his duties at PHDT as the Chairman on 2nd January 2025. He is equipped with a long-standing experience in Public Service as a senior member of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. He holds a Degree on Bachelor of Arts, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, a Master’s Degree in Economics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He also holds Doctor of Philosophy (Coastal Resources Management), International University of Fundamental Studies, Russia and Diploma in Information Technology, Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration.
His experience in administration and public policy development is multi-faceted. It includes areas such as Tourism, Human Resource Management, Labour Relations, Parliamentarian Process, Coastal Conservation, Environment and Plantation. The modern and new public management experience he has gained by participating for the foreign training programmes.
In addition, he was awarded “Pradeep Pranama” by University of Sri Jayewardhanepura in 2016 and awarded as “Integrity Icon 2019”, Integrity Public Servant awarded by Transparence International Sri Lanka.
Career Record
Secretary – Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure (20th Nov 2024 Up To Date)
Secretary – Ministry of Environment (01st Jan 2024 – 19th Nov 2024)
Commisioner General of Labour – Department of Labour (Oct 2020 – Dec 2023)
Director General – Coast Conservation & Coastal Resource Mngt. Dept. (Apr 2015 – Oct 2020)
Senior Assitant Secretary to The Leader of The House of Parliament (2010 – 2015)
Assistant Secretary to The Leader of The House of Parliament (2006 – 2010)
Assitant Divisional Secretary – Biyagama Divisional Secretariate (2003 – 2006)
Assistant Secretary – Ministry of Education and Tourism, Uva Provincial Council (2001 – 2003)
Secretary General - Planters’ Association of Ceylon
Secretary General - Planters’ Association of Ceylon
Was a founder member of the Plantation Housing & Social Welfare Trust (PHSWT) established on 18th September 1992 and later re-named as Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) on 10th October 2002.
Since Privatization of Plantations and the formation of Regional Plantation Companies Mr. Obeyesekere functioned as the Chief Executive Officer of two RPCs over a period of 25 years up to 2017. He is a Fellow of the National Institute of Plantation Management in Sri Lanka and counts over 52 years experience in the Industry having commenced his career as a Management Trainee and then rising to the position of Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Obeyesekere is a past Chairman of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon and the Plantation Employers’ Services Group of the Employers Federation of Ceylon. He has served as an elected member of the Ceylon Rubber Traders’ Association & the Ceylon Tea Traders Association and as a nominated Council Member of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon. He is a member of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC).
He has served as a Member of Sri Lanka Tea Board, Tea Research Board and Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation (SLSPC) and currently serves on the Boards of National Institute of Plantation Management, Ceylon Tea Museum and Plantation Human Development Trust.
Currently he functions as the Secretary General of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon.
Director/CEO - Horana Plantations PLC
Director/CEO - Horana Plantations PLC
Mr. Rodrigo is a Senior Executive and an Industry Leader with extensive experience in the Plantation Sector, spanning strategic leadership, operational management, and institutional governance. He currently serves as the Director & Chief Executive Officer of Horana Plantations PLC, where he provides strategic direction and leads enterprise-wide operations to drive sustainable growth and organizational performance.
Starting his career as Plantation Assistant Manager at Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB), building a strong foundation in plantation operations and public-sector management.
In addition to his executive responsibilities, Mr. Rodrigo contributes actively to Industry and Social Development Institutions. He serves as an active Fair Trade NAPP Board Representative, Director representing the PA for the Ceylon Tea Museum, Plantations Human Development Trust and is an active member of Ceylon Planters’ Provident Society and the Estate Staffs’ Provident Society, supporting governance, human development, and sector-wide sustainability.
Mr. Rodrigo has had extensive training in Management Practices, from the Indian School of Business (ISB) – Hyderabad, and has had specialized practical training in Japan under “JASTICA” and in addition, has received training in Child Protection in emergencies from “Save the Children” in Thailand, strengthening his expertise in social welfare and community development within the plantation sector.
National Organizer - Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU)
National Organizer - Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU)
Mr. S.P. Vijekumaran, who is representing the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union is currently performing as the National Organizer and Senior Administrative Secretary of the Union. He was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of LJEWU from 2003 to 2014; Regional Director of Uva Province; Assistant Secretary of National Trade Union Federation; Treasurer of The Power Foundation; President of Sri Lanka Security Services Union. He also, served as the Private Secretary to late Hon. K. Velayudam (Member of Parliament and Member of Uva Provincial Council) from 1990 to 2013.
He was appointed as the Assistant Secretary (T/U) of Ministry of Plantation Industries and NHDA Housing Programme Co-ordinator of LJEWU from 2017 to 2019 and from 2021 September Senior Administrative Secretary of LJEWU. Mr. Wijakumaran represented Sri Lanka as the worker delegate at the International Labour Conference held in Geneva in 2003 and 2016. He holds Diplomas in Trade Union Workers Education and Curriculum Development and Diploma in Political Science and Social Mobilization.
Executive Director, Hapugastenne/Udapussellawa Plantations PLC
Executive Director, Hapugastenne/Udapussellawa Plantations PLC
Mr. Anusha Perera was appointed as Chairman to the Boards of Hapugastenne Plantations PLC and Udapussellawa Plantations PLC in December 2021 and he currently serves as an Executive Director of Maturata Plantations Ltd, Hapugastenne Plantations PLC , Udapussellawa Plantations PLC, Tea Small Holder Factories PLC ,Newburgh Green Tea (Pvt) Ltd, Melfort Green Teas Ltd, and Director of Pussellawa Plantaions Ltd, FLMC Plantations(PVT) Ltd, Ceylon Estate Teas (PVT) Ltd, and Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT). Mr. Perera has over 40 years of experience in the Plantation sector.
In the corporate sector he has served as the Executive Director of Balangoda Plantations PLC, Director/CEO of Agalawatte Plantations PLC, Director of AEN Oil Palm Ltd, Director of Mackply Industries Ltd, Board Member of Rubber Research Board of Sri Lanka.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Plantation Management (FIPM), Member of the Chartered Institute of Personal Management (CMIPM), Member of the Institute of Management (MIM), Life member of the Organization of Professional Association (OPA).
Mr. Anusha Perera Presently is a Committee Member of the Ceylon Rubber Traders’ Association of Sri Lanka (CRTA) and Spices & Allied Products Producers’ & Traders’ Association of Sri Lanka (SAPPTA). He has previously served as the Vice Chairman of the Spices & Allied Products Producers’ & Traders’ Association of Sri Lanka (SAPPTA)., and as a Committee Member of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association of Sri Lanka (CTTA).
Director/CEO - Malwatte Valley Plantations PLC
Director/CEO - Malwatte Valley Plantations PLC
Mr. Shanaka D. Samaradiwakara began his career in the private sector in 1989 after completing his secondary education at Royal College, Colombo 7. He entered the plantation sector in 1992 with the Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB).
He is a senior planter with over three decades of experience in managing plantations and holds a National Diploma in Plantation Management and an MBA from Horizons University, France. He is also a Fellow of the National Institute of Plantation Management.
Mr. Samaradiwakara has extensive experience in the cultivation, manufacture, processing, packaging, warehousing, and export of key crops including tea, rubber, spices, and other export-oriented agricultural products.
Having initially served at Kotagala Plantations and Kelani Valley Plantations, he joined Malwatte Valley Plantations PLC in 2014. He was appointed Director and Chief Executive Officer on 1st August 2019, and subsequently to the Board of Malwatte Spices (Pvt) Ltd in 2020.
He currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon, Chairman of the Plantation Services Group and as a Council Member of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon. He is also a member of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA) and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC).
Additionally, he serves as a Board Director of the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB), the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT), and as a Member of the Plantation Sector Wages Board.
Ass. Director - Department of Fiscal Policy, Ministry of Finance / Treasury
Ass. Director - Department of Fiscal Policy, Ministry of Finance / Treasury
Mr. T. P. Kodippily is a career civil servant of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service and serves as Assistant Director at the Department of Fiscal Policy, Ministry of Finance, Sri Lanka. He contributes his expertise to both the Tax Policy Unit and Macro Fiscal Unit of the Department.
Mr. Kodippily holds a BS in Physical Sciences from the University of Colombo, a Diploma in Public Administration from the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration, and an MA in Policy Economics from Williams College.
Director Estate & Urban Health - Ministry of Health
Director Estate & Urban Health - Ministry of Health
Dr. (Mrs.) N.K.C. Gunarathna is a Consultant Community Physician, and currently she is working as the Director of Estate and Urban Health Unit of the Ministry of Health. Apart from her MBBS Medical Degree from the University of Ruhuna. Dr. Gunarathna has Master and Doctor of medicine Degrees from the University of Colombo. She had completed overseas training for a period of one year in the University of La Trobe, Australia.
She served as a Medical Officer in Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Medical Officer of Health in Kalautara and Beruwala areas attached to National Institute of Health Services and Consultant Community Physician in National Institute of Health Services.
She commenced her administrative career as a Deputy Director, Teaching Hospital, Kaluthara and thereafter as the Deputy Director of Colombo South Teaching Hospital.
Ministry of Urban Development, Construction & Housing
Ministry of Urban Development, Construction & Housing
Mr. Zameel is the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Housing Construction and Water Supply. He is a SLAS Officer joined the service in 1998. He has completed his BA Degree at University of Peradeniya (external) and MSc in Human Resource Planning and Development at University of Grugobind Indraprasad – New Delhi.
He served in several public institutes such as Department of Registration of Persons, Public Service Commission, Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Services, Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, and Department of Project Management and Monitoring
Director Finance - Kelani Valley Plantations PLC
Director Finance - Kelani Valley Plantations PLC
National organizer - Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC)
National organizer - Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC)
Director General
Director General
The Director General of PHDT-Lal Perera who served as Senior Regional Director of the Nuwara Eliya Plantation Human Development Trust was appointed as the Director General having served the PHDT for more than 11 years. As a planter, He is a veteran in the Plantation Industry who has been in the field for over 30 years and served in Low country and up-country Estates. Mr. Perera is well experienced in the field of plantation management and administration. A product of St Thomas College, Bandarawela. He obtained his first degree from the University of Wayamba from the faculty of Plantation Management the faculty and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Post Graduate Diploma from the University of Colombo. He is a fellow member of the National Institute of Plantation Management and a member of the Institute of the environment in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Perera began his career as a Trainee Assistant Manager and later rose to the position of Director General – the highest position a Planter could reach in the PHDT. Apart from being DG of PHDT is the current president of the Alumni Association of the University of Wayamba and conducts lectures at the university and at the NIPM. He is an effective team leader, a well-known agriculturist and a trainer who believes in knowledge sharing. He introduced the concept of “Multi-sectorial approach ” into the PHDT where, through building bridges of understanding between Workers, Trade Unions and Private and Public-Sector work in a win-win culture was established with his knowledge gain by following the Masters in Public Management and Administration.
Director Finance, Administration & IT
Director Finance, Administration & IT
Finance, Administration and IT Divisions are headed by a qualified Finance professional who is possessed with experience over two decades in Corporate Finance and Banking. He is also a Post Graduate Diploma Holder in Corporate Business Finance & Banking with local and foreign Training. He is supported by a team of professionals and the division is responsible for the Financial & Management Accounting / Reporting, Treasury & Risk Management, Internal Controls, and Corporate Finance.
He also guides the Manager – Information Technology and their professionally and technically qualified staff in the IT divisions. The Information Technology (IT) division is providing all Software, Hardware, Network facilities and also the transmission of accurate information, professional presentations and New Developments.
Director Health
Director Health
The Director Health of PHDT-Dr. Sarath Amunugama who worked in the Ministry of Health and retired after serving for 35 years and appointed as the Director Health. He served as a Public Health Professional since the beginning of his carrier. His carrier started as Medical Officer of Health and served as Medical Officer Maternal and Child Health Kandy, Medical Superintendent of Anuradhapura General Hospital, Regional Director of Health Services Anuradhapura, Director Training of National Institute of Health Sciences Kalutara, Director of Health Promotion Bureau and rose to the position of Deputy Director General of Health Public Health Services which is the highest position in Public Health in the Department of Health Services. He completed his secondary education at St. Thomas College Matale and obtained the degree in Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Peradeniya and Master of Science in Community Medicine from the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine Colombo. After the retirement, joined the Plantation Human Development Trust as the Director of Health.
Director Engineering
Director Engineering
Captain (Rtd) Dilan Senanayake is a distinguished Chartered Civil Engineer with a robust career spanning over 26 years in the Sri Lanka Navy, where he served as a Civil Engineer. Following his retirement as a Captain, he transitioned to the private sector, contributing significantly to various construction companies in managerial capacities, including international assignments. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the General Sir John Kothalawala Defence University, complemented by Post Graduate Diplomas in Construction Management from the University of Moratuwa and the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Since 2005, Captain Senanayake has been a dedicated Member of the Institution of Engineers and serves as an Adjudicator in both the CIDA and Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka. His expertise spans Structural Design of buildings, Project Management, and Contract Management, with a rich portfolio encompassing diverse projects such as housing, apartments, hotels, steel buildings, roads, water supply systems, and marine constructions. His career is a testament to his commitment to excellence in engineering and leadership in the construction industry.
