NIMAL GUNEWARDENA TAKES HELM AT PRASL AS SRI LANKA’S PUBLIC RELATIONS SECTOR EYES A STRATEGIC FUTURE

Veteran communications leader Nimal Gunewardena has been elected President of the Public Relations Association of Sri Lanka, marking a significant moment for the country’s evolving PR industry. With a renewed focus on strategic communications, digital transformation and professional standards, PRASL aims to strengthen the sector’s national and international relevance.

Sri Lanka’s public relations industry is preparing for a new phase of growth and professionalisation following the election of veteran communications strategist Nimal Gunewardena as President of the Public Relations Association of Sri Lanka (PRASL).

The appointment was confirmed during the organisation’s second Annual General Meeting held on 21 April, where members also elected a board comprising senior agency leaders and corporate communications professionals. Gunewardena, a founding director of PRASL since its establishment in 2023, brings more than five decades of experience spanning communications, marketing and integrated marketing communications.

Widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential communications professionals, Gunewardena has played a defining role in shaping Sri Lanka’s advertising, marketing and public relations landscape. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, he has previously served as President of both the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing and the Accredited Advertising Agencies Association.

His stature within the profession was recently underscored by international PR expert Farzana Baduel, who described him as Sri Lanka’s “Godfather of PR” during a visit to the country.

Gunewardena’s election comes at a time when public relations is increasingly being recognised as a strategic business and governance function rather than merely a publicity tool. Addressing the future direction of PRASL, he stressed the importance of repositioning public relations as a discipline capable of supporting broader national priorities, including digital transformation, sustainability, foreign investment and economic confidence-building.

Industry observers believe the association’s ambitions reflect wider shifts within South Asia’s communications sector, where organisations are placing greater emphasis on reputation management, stakeholder engagement and purpose-driven narratives in an increasingly digital environment.

Under the new leadership, PRASL is expected to focus on raising professional standards, enhancing industry recognition and creating stronger pathways for young communications professionals entering the field. The association also aims to encourage ethical practices and knowledge-sharing while building closer links between corporate communications teams, agencies and academic institutions.