Keith Bernard

Former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Also former Chairman of Hambantota International Port Services and Board Director of Hambantota International Port Group, Colombo International Container Terminal, South Asia Gateway Terminal, Colombo West International Terminal, South Asia Commercial & Logistics Centre, Jaya Container Terminals (Oil Bunkering). Assumed position of Chairman Sri Lanka Ports Authority in 2022 at the time the Sri Lanka economy had plunged to to its worst ever crisis level in its post independence history of 75 years. Despite macro setbacks, set SLPA and the Port of Colombo on a growth trajectory with zero disruptions. In the first quarter of 2024 the Port of Colombo was recognized by the Alpha Lines publishes as the best performing port globally. I moved out of the SLPA in lates September 2024 with a gratifying achievement of ensuring the Port of Colombo to record its best ever performance in history in 2024 by achieving 7.78 million TEUs which effectively beat the accepted capacity of 7.5 million TEUs per annum. Finance and Management specialist with experience at local and international companies. Commenced career at Ernst & Young and moved to industry and progressed through the ranks up to CFO and then CEO in Conglomerate and industries spanning commodity brokering, manufacturing and exports, telecom, apparel, leisure, media, plantations, beverage, ICT, healthcare, logistics, BPO, insurance etc. Previously Working Director and Member of the Board of Directors of the Road Development Authority under the Ministry of Highways, Higher Education & Investment Promotion. Former director of road construction company and independent director of leading salt producing & distribution company. Served as Managing Director of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development. Also functioned as Advisor to the Minister of Public Enterprise Development. Former Independent/Non-Executive Director of a Non Banking Financial Institution. Served as Chairman of its Audit Committee and as member of the HR Committee and Credit Committee. Served as Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of a leading hospital, and Chaired it's remuneration committee, audit committee and Related Party Transaction Committees and was member of it's Procurement Committee. Non Independent non executive director of its fully owned subsidiary in laboratory/diagnostics services. Non executive director of leading investment bank. Director of company in the road construction sector.