Citrus Leisure PLC gears for next phase of growth with a leadership transition

Citrus Leisure PLC recently announced the appointment of Nirekshe Perera as Group Chief Executive Officer - Designate, effective 1st September 2026.

Nirekshe is a seasoned hospitality executive with over 25 years of leadership experience spanning luxury hotels, integrated leisure complexes, large-scale MICE operations and banking CRM. His career includes leadership roles across prominent local and international hospitality businesses, including Monarch Imperial, Shangri-La Hotel Colombo, Waters Edge Limited, and Hilton Colombo Residences, where he has worked across diverse customer segments and built extensive experience in events, sales and marketing, strategic partnerships and hospitality operations.

Commenting on the appointment, Samantha Ranatunga, Chairman of Citrus Leisure PLC, said, “Nirekshe joins Citrus at a crucial time for both the Group and Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. With his depth of experience across hospitality and leisure, we believe he brings the perspective and energy needed as we look towards the next phase of the business. He will be building on the foundations laid by Chandana Talwatte, who has been an integral part of Citrus from its early years and has contributed greatly to shaping the brand and the business over time. We are sincerely grateful to Chandana for his leadership and commitment and look forward to a smooth transition as Nirekshe takes Citrus forward.”

Chandana Talwatte will conclude his tenure as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Citrus Leisure PLC on 11th November 2026, following which Nirekshe will assume the role of Group Chief Executive Officer of the Citrus Group effective 12th November 2026. The leadership transition marks a new phase for Citrus across its hospitality portfolio, which includes Citrus Waskaduwa, Citrus Hikkaduwa and The Steuart by Citrus, together with its food and beverage establishments such as Ceylon Curry Club.

Building on the foundations established over the years, Citrus looks ahead to renewed energy across its hotels and dining establishments, with a continued focus on strengthening its guest experiences and positioning the Group for its next phase of development.