In a recent conversation, Nadee Balasuriya from the Global CEO Magazine had the opportunity to connect with Captain Ajith Peiris, delving into his remarkable journey and the leadership principles that have guided his success.

Our focus has always been on supporting students to find employment by filling gaps in the industry. Today, we have Eight Faculties, including Maritime, Engineering, Management , Health Sciences , Computing, Humanities & Education and Science, making us the leading non-State higher education institution in Sri Lanka.

This discussion offered valuable insights into the man behind CINEC’s impressive growth and global impact. Through this exchange, Captain Peiris’s dedication to excellence, his forward-thinking approach, and his deep commitment to education and the maritime industry were vividly highlighted. His story continues to inspire and sets a benchmark for aspiring leaders.

Without further ado, let’s dive right into the discussion.

Q: There’s a great story behind your successes, and it has a humble beginning. I’d like to start with the very beginning—can you share with us the story of your early career at sea? I’m sure you’ve had many experiences that shaped your journey into the leader you are today.

Captain Ajith Peiris: Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I think it all started in the early 1970s when I was still in school. At that time, the government which was ruling Sri Lanka made a decision to remove a certain segment of officers from the Sri Lanka Transport Board, where my father was an Area Manager. This prompted me to look for employment to support my family. Although my parents wanted me to continue my studies and hoped I would attend university, my focus was on supporting my family. I had a conversation with one of my neighbours, a friend who had joined Ceylon Shipping Corporation as a cadet on a ship. He told me about the sea career and the lucrative opportunities available. Despite my parents’ wishes, I convinced my mother to help persuade my father to allow me to apply for a cadet officer position at Ceylon Shipping Corporation. I performed well in the interview and was asked why I wanted to quit my studies and sports to join the ship. I told them it was my childhood dream, and I was selected as the batch top, which earned me a scholarship to the Indian training ship, Training Ship Rajendra.

That marked the beginning of my sea career. After completing two years of training, I returned and joined Ceylon Shipping Corporation, where I completed my exams to become a second officer, chief officer, and ship captain in the shortest time possible.

In 1983, I became a qualified master mariner, and in 1984, at the age of 28, I became a ship captain. This experience, especially when navigating international trips from Colombo to Europe, Japan, and China, matured me and gave me the experience to tackle challenges and make critical decisions.

Q: It’s amazing, like they say, a smooth sea never made a skilful sailor. Among your many achievements, I think one of the greatest is founding CINEC Campus. What inspired you to start this institution, and how has CINEC evolved since its inception in 1990?

Captain Ajith Peiris: After sailing for 14 years, I decided to quit the sea and take a shore job due to the prevailing circumstances in the country at that time. My son had just started schooling, and when a bomb went off near Royal College, where he was studying, I realised it was time to be with my family. I was invited by a good friend to join Sea Line Shipping, which at that time was a small company with only a few staff members. Over the years, I transformed it into the most diversified shipping group in Sri Lanka. In 1990, we started CINEC, which I call my baby, as a maritime academy because there was a demand for well-trained seafarers, especially officers and engineers, on foreign ships.

Unfortunately, the training programmes in Sri Lanka at that time did not meet international standards. With the support of two partners, we started our own training academy to produce quality seafarers. Our trainees were accepted by top shipping companies globally due to our focus on quality and discipline.

Over the years, we expanded our programmes to cover the entire spectrum of maritime training, including producing ship captains and chief engineers. About 17 years ago, we diversified into non-marine programmes, partnering with the University of South Australia to offer engineering degrees. Our focus has always been on supporting students to find employment by filling gaps in the industry. Today, we have eight faculties, including engineering, management, health sciences, and computing, making us the leading non-State higher education institution in Sri Lanka.

Q: CINEC Campus has indeed come a long way. Recently, CINEC won the Presidential Export Award for Education Services. This recognition is a testament to the high standards of quality you’ve maintained throughout. What do you think are the key factors behind this success?

Captain Ajith Peiris: The Presidential Award for Export Sector in Education is something we are very proud of. I’ve always focused on doing my best for Sri Lanka, even when the country faced difficult times. Instead of fleeing or criticising, we focused on developing our business, finding employment, training people, and supporting the Sri Lankan economy.

We train people for the international market, ensuring they are gainfully employed while still contributing to the country. On the maritime side, our seafarers bring in around 500 million dollars annually, with a target to increase that to 1.5 billion. We also aim to stop the brain-drain by offering foreign qualifications in Sri Lanka, attracting students from neighbouring countries and saving foreign exchange. This focus on quality education and supporting the economy is why we received the Presidential Award. We are now looking forward to expanding CINEC’s global impact by managing maritime academies in countries like Seychelles and Fiji, and we plan to further expand to places like Qatar, Indonesia, and South Africa.

Q: Under your leadership, CINEC has grown significantly and won numerous awards. Managing such a large organisation is no easy task, especially when you have to deal with people who are equally, if not more, talented. Can you describe your leadership style when it comes to managing them?

Captain Ajith Peiris: I believe in teamwork and recognise that there are many people who are more talented and knowledgeable than I am. I never assume that I know everything just because I hold the title of President. I listen to others, make decisions for the benefit of the organisation, and believe in being humble as you climb higher up the ladder. I treat people with respect and support them, focusing on their strengths rather than attacking their weaknesses. This approach helps build relationships, fosters teamwork, and has resulted in a fantastic team here at CINEC.

Q: In any organisation, the greatest asset is its people, and your leadership style has clearly worked, given CINEC’s success. What are your core beliefs when it comes to managing people, and how have these principles influenced your team throughout CINEC’s journey?

Captain Ajith Peiris: When managing people from diverse backgrounds, it’s important to treat everyone equally, regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity. I focus on their strengths, try to understand their perspective when problems arise, and ensure that everyone feels valued and supported. By doing so, we create a positive work environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to the success of CINEC.