An extract from the speech delivered by Mr Anura Siriwardena, Chairman of the Global CEO Forum.
It is indeed a great day for me personally, and in a broader sense, a significant day for the entire corporate community.
Why? Because today, we are privileged to host a truly extraordinary individual at our forum.
This evening is not merely another corporate gathering. It is a rare opportunity—an opportunity to listen, to learn, and to be inspired by a global icon who has not only built a brand, but has shaped history.
Joe Foster is far more than the co-founder of Reebok. He represents a journey defined by courage, resilience, and vision. His story reminds us that greatness is never confined by geography—it is driven by mindset.
The purpose of bringing you all together this evening is both simple and profound: to create a moment for Sri Lankan business leaders to pause, reflect, and think beyond boundaries—to reimagine what is possible, and to build brands that can stand proudly on the global stage.
What makes this evening even more remarkable is the fact that this entire programme was brought together in less than one week. In many ways, it feels nothing short of a miracle. From securing this venue to inviting such a distinguished audience, everything was accomplished within an incredibly short span of time.
Joe and his wife, Julie, are in Sri Lanka on a private visit, which makes this occasion even more special. At this juncture, I must place on record my deepest appreciation to my good friend, Mr Billa Bhandari—a true friend of Sri Lanka—whose initiative made this evening possible.
He was ably supported by his close associates, Dr Harsha de Silva and
Mr Aminda Weerasinghe. Gentlemen, this gathering would not have become a reality without your commitment.
Julie, your support and encouragement in enabling Joe’s presence here mean a great deal to all of us. We are truly grateful.
To the best of my knowledge, we have not had the privilege in recent times of engaging with a personality of Joe Foster’s calibre here in Sri Lanka. That makes this evening even more significant.
My sincere thanks also go to our esteemed panel: Mr Ravi Jayawardena, Group CEO of the Maliban Group; Dr Harsha N. de Silva, Chairman of Navara Capital; and Ms Onalie Dissanayake, former Country Head of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. We deeply appreciate your presence and contribution.
Behind the scenes, I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr Kamal Munasinghe, General Manager of Cinnamon Life, our Hospitality Partner. Despite the short notice, he and his team extended exceptional support and generosity in making this venue available.
My appreciation also goes to our valued partners—LOLC, Prime Lands, DSI Group (the official agent of Reebok in Sri Lanka), Imperial College of Business Studies, Sanima Steel Buildings, Bank of Ceylon, and Brooklyn Distilleries—for responding to our call within just a few days and supporting this initiative.
I must also thank the Voice of Asia Network, where I serve as Managing Director, for their support and flexibility in enabling me to engage in initiatives of this nature.
A special word of appreciation goes to Mr Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CEO of the Colombo Stock Exchange, who has joined us today to deliver the keynote address despite a demanding schedule. His presence reflects the importance of this gathering.
Indeed, many of you here this evening have rearranged your commitments to be present. That itself speaks volumes about the value and relevance of this forum.
Our team has worked tirelessly over the past few days with extraordinary dedication. I must also acknowledge our printing partner, who delivered an exceptional publication on Joe Foster within just two days—another remarkable achievement.
On a personal note, I wish to thank my wife and children for their unwavering support and encouragement. Without them, this would not have been possible.
Ladies and gentlemen, we firmly believe that this session will ignite new thinking among our business leaders—to go the extra mile, to challenge limits, and to create brands that transcend borders.
At Global CEO Magazine and the Global CEO Forum, our commitment remains steadfast: to develop leadership, inspire innovation, and open new horizons for the corporate sector—the backbone of our economy.
Before I conclude, I would like to extend a warm invitation to Joe and Julie to visit Sri Lanka once again, and to share this remarkable journey with an even wider audience. We hope to welcome you back, perhaps as early as May 2026.
Let us make the most of this rare opportunity.
Thank you very much.
