Chairman
A dynamic entrepreneur and a well-established business practitioner with forty years of experience in varied business activities, particularly in Shipping, Marine and Logistics. Mr. Rohan De Silva currently heads the McLarens Group as Chairman/Managing Director (since 1992) and is responsible for group profitability as well as business development through innovation and investment in new ventures. Developing new ideas with commercial viability has been a tremendous strength in his career. He is extensively involved in promoting large scale foreign investments as well as implementation of new services and infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. He represents the Company in Trade & Business Forums both in Sri Lanka and abroad and consults/negotiates with potential investors and Partners.
Mr. De Silva holds the title of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Namibia in Sri Lanka. He is a member of both the Ceylon Association of Ships Agents Advisory Committee and the Advisory Council on Ports, Shipping and Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Ports & Shipping.
In the past, Mr. De Silva has held honorary positions representing the board of directors of several Governmental and Non-Governmental institutions in the Shipping, Aviation and Telecom industries. He also served as a member of the Presidential Task Force to formulate shipping policy and acted as an advisor to the Shippers’ Academy Sri Lanka.
His accolades include a Special award for the contribution made towards the Shipping Industry by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, UK – Sri Lanka Branch, as well as the Global Commerce Excellence Award 2011.
He pioneered commencement of a new ship supply service of Southern Coast of Sri Lanka giving berth to a fresh industry in the field of shipping in Sri Lanka. He also pioneered off-shore Shipping services in the Port of Hambantota.
He established the manufacturing of Polyethylene Foam insulation products in Sri Lanka, which was the beginning of a new heat insulation production industry in the Country.
Mr. Rohan De Silva has represented Sri Lanka in Motor Racing in India & Dubai and has participated in nearly 1000 Race events with over 600 podium placings. He is also the Leader and Sponsor of a unique project to build Formula Racing Cars in collaboration with the Institute of Engineers in Sri Lanka and pioneered the formation of the first “Motor Race Track” and the “Go Kart Track" in Sri Lanka. He was the President of Asian Motor Racing Club, Treasurer of Carlton Motor Sports Club He was a member of the Governing Body of Motor Racing in Sri Lanka.
He is an avid Badminton player with many achievements to his credit including the National Champion in the over 50 years and 55 years’ age category. Mr. De Silva was a nominated Manager of the Sri Lanka Badminton Team for Olympic Games in London in 2012. He was a Patron of Mercantile Badminton Association and a Trustee of Mercantile Badminton Trust.