Mr.Keerthi Bandara Kotagama – B.Sc (Agric.) Sp, MBA (Finance & Management of Technology) AIT
Mr.Keerthi Bandara Kotagama is a Manager in the Agriculture & Business Management fields. He obtained his BSc in Agriculture (Hons) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and Master of Business Administration (Finance & Management of Technology) from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.
Mr. Kotagama is the Founder Managing Director/CEO of CIC Agri Businesses, the only “Seed to Shelf” Agriculture company in Sri Lanka and Director CIC.
He currently serves as the Chairman Galoya Plantations Limited, Director / CEO of Hector Kobbakaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, Director National Food Promotion Board, Director Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration and Council Member Colombo School of Business Management.
He served as Executive Director of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, Chairman of Janatha Estates Development Board, Director of The Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC, Board Director of the National Film Corporation, Member of the Board of Directors of the Ceylon Tea Museum, Board Member of Business Management Education Board of NIBM, Chairman of Feasibility study on expansion Cocoa cultivation in Sri Lanka, Director of Kottukachchi Dairies (Pvt) Ltd (Subsidiary of National Livestock Development Board),
Member of the committee on Matters related to the Plantation Sector, Ministry of Public Enterprise Development, Advisor/Consultant (Science & Technology) to the Minister of Science, Technology & Research, Advisor to the Minister of Public Administration and Management, Advisor/Consultant (Agriculture & Plantations) to the Minister of Public Enterprise Development, Board Member of CSR Sri Lanka, Member of the Working Committee (Biotechnology & Bioethics) and Member of the Steering Committee (Food Security) of the National Science Foundation Sri Lanka. He also served as the Chairman of Lanka Sugar Company (Pvt) Ltd, Member of the Board of Directors of the Coconut Cultivation Board and Member of the National Pay Commission.
Mr. Kotagama has been awarded and recognised for his professional services and contribution by several Local and International Organizations. This includes the Responsible Business Leader Award 2012, presented by the Enterprise Asia, Malaysia and the Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award 2012, presented by the Enterprise Asia, Sri Lanka.
BMD spoke to him for a brief account on his wide and varied experience in management and leadership:
Q: How do you see a leader irrespective of the field?
He should have a clear VISION on what needs to be achieved and determination to ACHIEVE goals set.
Q: Have you met with great leaders?
Yes. I have met with a number of great leaders. Besides I have read a lot on leaders like Richard Branson, Bill Gates, and Charoen Pokphand of CP Goup , Thailand
Q: Did you learn anything from them?
Yes.
Q: Are you applying them in your activities?
Yes.
Q: If so, state a few of them.
Delegation of authority
Trust in subordinates
Avoid micro management
Team building
Q: Do you have a mentor?
No. I have no mentors because I make my own path or follow my own instincts.
Q: How do you see the success of an organization?
Any organization exists to address social issues that uplift or help the wellbeing of the society. Therefore, successful organizations contribute and uplift the society.
Q: What is your competitive advantage?
Team approach and experience in the field.
Q: How much time do you spend reading?
Two hours each day.
Q: What advice would you give to anyone who wants to follow your footsteps?
Always try to identify critical issues that hinder growth of the society or sector and find ways to resolve it which helps to improve society.
Q: What is your next goal?
Get involved in policy making to serve the majority of the human beings. bmd