Nandana Ekanayake assumed leadership of Siam City Cement (Lanka) Limited, known as INSEE Cement, when the company entered a phase of strategic realignment. Initially appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2017 and later assuming the role of Chairman in 2019, Ekanayake has been a central figure in shaping the company’s direction, particularly in aligning its operations with long-term sustainability and growth targets.
Ekanayake’s career in cement began long before his current role, giving him deep operational insight into both Sri Lankan and regional markets. Having joined Holcim’s Sri Lankan operations in 1999, he played a key role in consolidating its operations by merging Ruhunu Cement and Puttalam Cement into Holcim Lanka. The restructuring included a preference share issue to fund the refurbishment of the Puttalam plant, indicating his early involvement in financing and capital strategy. His track record extends to Holcim Vietnam, where he served as Finance Director and later took on acting CEO responsibilities, further sharpening his cross-border leadership credentials.
His ability to operate in strategic and operational capacities has been tested across mergers, divestments, and expansions. Before his appointment in Sri Lanka, Ekanayake held the position of Finance Director and Head of Divestment Projects for LafargeHolcim Vietnam. This background shaped how he approaches large-scale transitions, including environmental compliance and portfolio rationalization. After INSEE Cement acquired Holcim’s Sri Lanka operations in 2016, Ekanayake returned to Sri Lanka to lead the transition.
“Becoming the first Sri Lankan CEO of INSEE Cement Lanka was a welcome change because the company had always had a foreign CEO. Having held top leadership positions here and then overseas, I was motivated to return to Sri Lanka to take over as the CEO of INSEE,” Ekanayake recalls. “I knew the company, its culture and the people. I also recognized a tremendous opportunity to make a difference”.
Ekanayake’s leadership has coincided with INSEE Cement’s broader push to reorient the company as a key player in environmental stewardship under the INSEE Sustainability Ambition 2030. The transition from Ordinary Portland Cement to low-carbon, environmentally friendly blended products reflects INSEE Cement’s commitment to a long-term sustainability agenda aligned with global standards without compromising market competitiveness. In 2021, we became the first to innovate and introduce Portland Composite Cement under the SANSTHA brand, working closely with the SLSI technical committee to bring this game-changing, eco-efficient product to the local market. The receipt of Environmental Product Declarations for the entire product portfolio marked significant shifts toward compliance with international sustainability standards. These decisions also redefined product development and positioned the firm to meet rising regulatory and market demands.
Beyond product innovation, Ekanayake has been instrumental in building systems that support sustainable operations at scale. INSEE Ecocycle, the company’s waste management arm, has processed over a million metric tons of waste since its inception and collaborates with private & public institutions to handle hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials. The programme began in 2003, steadily expanding its client base and contributing to national waste management strategies. It reflects an operational integration of circular economy principles into core business functions rather than as an ancillary CSR activity.
Establishing the INSEE i2i Collaboration Space further underscores Ekanayake’s role in embedding innovation within the company’s structure. It brings engineers, researchers, academics, and competitors together to co-develop new construction materials. Several cement and mortar products launched under the Sanstha brand are direct outcomes of this platform. The initiative is designed to institutionalize R&D collaboration and create scalable innovation pipelines rather than isolated experiments.
Ekanayake’s approach to leadership is grounded in institutional continuity and targeted capability building. Rather than relying on episodic initiatives, he has overseen the integration of digital platforms such as INSEE PRO and the Nawa Niwasa mobile app to improve customer access, delivery logistics, and technical assistance. These platforms extend the company’s operational footprint beyond manufacturing into services, enhancing real-time visibility and customer interaction in the construction value chain.
His educational background complements his executive experience. Ekanayake is a Fellow Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and holds CPA credentials in Australia. He has also received executive training at the London Business School and IMD in Switzerland, grounding his financial and strategic decisions in regional insight and global frameworks. These credentials reinforce his capacity to lead in regulated industries with international reporting and compliance obligations.
The combination of operational restructuring, sustainability alignment, and innovation-led growth reflects a leadership style that privileges incremental system-building over top-down transformation narratives. Ekanayake’s second term as CEO suggests a board-level endorsement of this methodical, results-oriented approach. His continued presence as Chairman and CEO provides strategic stability as INSEE Cement navigates future shifts in construction demand, resource constraints, and climate regulations.
Reflecting on his leadership style, Ekanayake believes success for any business means prioritizing employee well-being. “Leaders can be harsh, pushy, and uncompromising when driving employees to achieve KPIs, and the results may please investors. However, that is not a sustainable approach to building a successful and sustainable business. I am not only looking at the recognition from my shareholders because I firmly believe that a leader who grows with the people and shares in the rewards is a leader securing the company’s future, its people and stakeholders”.
As the Sri Lankan construction sector faces pressure to decarbonize and innovate, INSEE Cement’s direction under Ekanayake offers a model of leadership that blends financial discipline with environmental accountability. The company’s recent achievements, from product certifications to digital tools, are outcomes of a leadership agenda emphasizing structural reform over symbolic change and Ekanayake’s focus on establishing people, innovation and strategy execution as the primary differentiator.